SECRETION. 273 



cause a marked rise of blood-pressure and slowing of the heart-beat. These 

 effects resemble in general those obtained from adrenal extracts, but differ in 

 some details. They seem to warrant the conclusion that the infundibular 

 body is not a mere rudimentary organ, as has been generally assumed, but 

 produces a peculiar substance, an internal secretion, that may have a distinct 

 physiological value. A number of observers, especially Vassale and Sacchi, 

 have succeeded in removing the entire pituitary body. They report that the 

 operation results eventually in the death of the animal with a certain group 

 of symptoms, such as muscular tremors and spasms, apathy and dyspnoea, that 

 resemble the results of thyroidectomy. It has been suggested therefore that 

 the pituitary body may be related in function to the thyroids and maybe 

 able to assume vicariously the functions of the latter after thyroidectomy. 

 There is no satisfactory evidence, however, in support of this view. On the 

 pathological side it has been shown that usually lesions of the pituitary body, 

 particularly of the hypophysis, are associated with a peculiar disease known 

 as acromegaly, the most prominent symptom of which is a marked hyper- 

 trophy of the bones of the extremities and of the face. The conclusion some- 

 times drawn from this fact that acromegaly is caused by a disturbance of the 

 functions of the pituitary body is, however, very uncertain, and is not sup- 

 ported by any definite clinical or experimental facts. 



Testis and Ovary. — Some of the earliest work upon the effect of the 

 internal secretions of the glands was done upon the reproductive glands, 

 especially the testis, by Brown-Sequard. 1 According to this observer, extracts 

 of the fresh testis when injected under the skin or into the blood may have a 

 remarkable influence upon the nervous system. The general mental and 

 physical vigor, and especially the activity of the spinal centres, are greatly 

 improved, not only in cases of general prostration and neurasthenia, but also 

 in the case of the aged. Brown-Sequard maintained that this general dvnamo- 

 genic effect is due to some unknown substance formed in the testis and sub- 

 sequently passed into the blood, although he admitted that some of the same 

 substance may be found in the external secretion of the testis — i. c, the 

 spermatic liquid. More recently Poehl 2 asserts that he has prepared a sub- 

 stance, spermin, to which he gives the formula C 5 H U N 2 , which has a very 

 beneficial effect upon the metabolism of the body. He believes that this 

 spermin is the substance that gives to the testicular extracts prepared by 

 Brown-Sequard their stimulating effect. He claims for this substance an 

 extraordinary action as a physiological tonic. The precise scientific value 

 of the results of experiments with the testicular extracts cannot be estimated 

 at present, in spite of the large literature upon the subject ; we must wait 

 for more detailed and exact experiments, which doubtless will SOOD be made. 

 Zoth '' and also Pregel 'seem to have obtained exact objective proof, by means 



1 Archives de Plii/^inlni/i, normale et pathologique, 1889 '.>-. 

 2 Zeitschriflfiir klini&che Wedicin, 1894, Bd. xxvi. S. 133. 



3 Pjiiiger's Archiv fiir die gesammte Physiologic, 189(>, Bd. Ixii. S. 335; also 1897, Bd. lxix. 

 S. 386. ' 4 Ihid., S. 379. 



Vol. I.— 18 



