PHYSIOLOGY IN THE STUDY OF DISEASE 99 



How the parathyroids act we do not know, and 

 whether they alone control the production of 

 guanidin we do not yet know. 



But our work has pretty clearly shown that these 

 various forms of tetany have some common origin, 

 and that in all probability a defective action of the 

 parathyroids is the cause of the condition. 



Till we know more of the essential nature of the 

 changes in the body which lead to the liberation 

 of guanidin, to suggest lines of treatment is hopeless. 

 We must simply go on investigating till the secret 

 is wholly revealed. 



The study of tetany is, I think, a good illustra- 

 tion of the way in which laboratories and hospitals 

 should be combined for the study of disease. The 

 combination has been too rare in the past, but there 

 is, I think, a growing recognition of the fact that 

 in this way alone can our knowledge of disease be 

 increased. It is the man trained as a physiologist 

 who is prepared to devote his whole time to the study 

 of disease in the wards of the hospital, who is of 

 real use in advancing knowledge and in training 

 students to carry on such work. Provision must 

 be made to relieve such men of the necessity of 

 devoting a large part of their time to general and 

 consulting practice as a means of making a liveli- 

 hood. An adequate wage must be provided for 

 them. 



I have tried to show you how physiology and a 



