298 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



metabolism of phosphorus and calcium during that period. Is it not 

 possible that the effects wliich are usually ascribed to a hypothetical 

 "internal secretion" of the testis are partly due to such a direct 

 connection with the metabolism of the body ? 



The nature of the influence wliich the sexual glands exert upon 

 the metabohsm of the body is very complex, and has not yet been 

 fully cleared up. Various observers have obtained very contradictory 

 results. Since this subject will be dealt with in another chapter, we 

 will refer to it 'here only in so far as it has any bearing op the calcium 

 and phosphorus metabohsm. On this point there is conclusive 

 evidence of a morphological nature both for the male and for the 

 female organism. Castration, if performed in youth, leads to a marked 

 increase in the growth of the long bones. This fact, which is due 

 to a retardation of the process of endochondral ossification taking 

 place in these bones, accounts for the increase in stature of eunuchs 

 and of castrated animals (see p. 323). 



Similar evidence, although of a more complex character, is afforded 

 in the case of the female by the relationship which undoubtedly exists 

 between the ovaries and osteomalacia, a disease consisting mainly in 

 a decalcification of the bones. It is produced probably by an abnormal 

 function of the ovaries, since removal of the ovaries markedly 

 improves, and sometimes cures, this condition (see p. 389). In 

 pregnancy and parturition there is what one might call a " physiological 

 osteomalacia " of the pehdc bones ; and the activity of the mammary 

 gland during lactation must necessarily bring aboiit an increased 

 calcium metabolism, since milk contains a very large amount of this 

 element. 



The organic substances in the semen may be divided into two 

 groups. If the semen is examined microscopically it is found that it 

 contains, on the one hand, cellular elements — viz. the spermatozoa 

 and lymphocytes, partly in a state of degeneration ; on the other hand, 

 organic material which is partly amorphous and partly crystalline. 



The amorphous material consists of : — 



1. Fine albuminous granules intermixed with a few fat globules 

 and pigmented granules. 



2. Small globules of about half the size of a red blood corpuscle, 

 consistmg of a hpoid substance. 



3. Oval amyloid bodies composed of concentric layers. These are, 

 however, not invariably found. 



4. The sorcalled "sympexions" of Robin, oval concrements of a 

 wax-like substance, the nature of which is not known.^ 



1 Cohen, " Die krystallinischen Bildungen des mannlichen Genitaltraktus," 

 Centralhlatt f. aUg. Pathologic u. pathol. Ar.atomie, vol. x., 1899. (This paper 

 gives a very complete bibliography.) 



