40 



weakened conditions of the male, spermatogenesis ceases or is 

 markedly defective. We must, undoubtedly, explain this fact 

 upon the ground of deficient nouHshment to the reproductive 

 organ.s or possibly the endocrines. The vitamines have been 

 termed nuclear nourishers, and their absence probably results in 

 nuclear deficienc}'. 



ExDOCRiNES: Bell (42) emphasizes the fact that not only the 

 structure but also the function of every part of the body is in 

 close correlation with the rest. " This is essentially true of the 

 ductless glands: the shadow of their influence is over all." 

 Further he states that when we remember that the individual 

 exists to perpetuate the species, it is not difficult to realize that 

 the metabolic factors concerned in reproduction are the same as 

 those related to the individual metabolism. It follows, therefore, 

 that the ductless glands which regulate the individual metabolism 

 concern equally the reproductive. Brown (43), discussing the 

 same subject brings out the generalization that the sympathetic, 

 since it is the most primitive part of the nervous system, is closely 

 associated with the endocrine system, a still more elemental means 

 of communication in the body. Also since specialized reproductive 

 cells appear before the nervous system, the organs of reproduction 

 remain closely associated with the older chemical reactions now 

 specialized in the endocrine glands. " The endocrine glands, the 

 reproductive organs, and the sympathetic nervous system, there- 

 fore, remain as a basic tripod, and it is not likely that a disturb- 

 ance will occur for long in one limb without affecting the other 

 two." The former author believes that the gonad keeps the other 

 ductless glands informed of the needs of the genital tract, they in 

 turn influencing the general metabolism. Jump (44) states: 

 " We are therefore justified in believing that there is a correlation 

 of function between these (endocrine) glands and that some cases 

 of sterility are probably due to a derangement of this correlation." 

 Biedl (45 ") concludes: " There appears to be an intimate anatomi- 

 cal and physiological interrelationship between the different blood 

 glands which is manifested clinically by the fact that the patho- 

 logical disturl)ance of one gland is accompanied by symptoms point- 

 ins: to the functional derangement of one or more of the others. 

 Knowing, as we do, the many sided interactivity which subsists be- 

 tween the different internal secretory organs, itTs readily con- 

 ceivable that isolated diseases of single organs of this group are 

 very much rarer than, at the first glance, they would appear to be. 

 Tn the present state of our knowledge, the only course of investiga- 

 tion which is open to us is to start with the known results of the 

 functional derangement of any organ, and, by following these up, 

 to seek the primary link in the pathological chain." 



Most workers seom to agree that a special connection exists be- 

 tween the normal function of the adrenal cortex and the sexual 

 organs. Tumors of the former are usually associated with sex 



