384 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



with excessive sexual desire. However, after a period of hyper- 

 activity on the part of the pituitary, retrogressive changes set in 

 with that organ, and these are accompanied or followed by impotence 

 and atrophy in the reproductive organs.^ 



The Fineal. — Precocious sexual development associated with early 

 secondary sexual changes (growth of pubic hair, enlargement of larynx, 

 etc.) and general body growth is said to be correlated with hyperactivity 

 in the pineal gland, but the evidence is very incomplete. Moreover, 

 according to M'Cord ^ the administration of pineal extract to young 

 Mammals is reported to hasten growth and sexual maturity. When 

 given to unicellular animals (Farammcium) the rate of reproduction 

 was markedly increased, and when fed to tadpoles, growth and 

 metamorphosis were hastened. On the other hand, according to Biach 

 and HuUes,* castration in Idttens caused atrophy of the pineal, and 

 according to Foa * removal of the pineal in the young cockerel caused 

 sexual precocity and an earlier development of the secondary male 

 characters. 



The Thyroid. — It is well known that there is a correlation 

 between the sexual organs and the thyroids. These glands undergo 

 N enlargement during menstruation and pregnancy in women, and 

 Freund^ has shown that similar changes occur during the heat 

 periods of mq,ny of the lower Mammals. He has pointed out further, 

 that swelling of the thyroid, at the time of puberty, often leads to 

 goitre, and that tliis disease commonly begins at a period of menstrua- 

 tion. M'Carrisbn '^ states that the sexual act and marriage in both 

 sexes increases the gland's activity and that the consequent swelling 

 is well known to primitive races. Arbuthnot Lane '' also says that 

 swelling is associated with intercourse as well as with pregnancy, and 

 that it alters with the intensity of the sexual appetite. Such facts 

 are cited by Gaskell ^ as evidence of a special connection between the 

 thyroid and the sexual organs — the former being held to represent 

 the uterus of the scorpion. Alquier and Thauveny ^ state that after 

 the partial or complete removal of the thyroids and parathyroids 



' See also Woods Hutchinson, " The Pituitary Gland as a Factor in Acrome- 

 galy and Giantism," JVew York Med. Jour., 1900. 



2 M'Cord, "The Pineal Gland," Surg., Oyn. and Obstet, vol. xxv., 1917. 



3 Biach and Hulles, "Ueber die Beziehungen der Zurbeldriise zum Genitale,'' 

 Wien. klin. Woch., vol. xxv., 1912. 



* Foa, " Hypertrophic des Testicules et de la Cr6te apres I'Extirpation de 

 la Glande Pineale chez le Coq," Arch. Ital. de'BioL, vol. Ivii., 1912. 



'' Freund, " Die Beziehungen der Schilddriise zu den weiblichen Geschlechts- 

 organen," Deutsche Zeitsch. f. Chir., vol. xviii,, 1883. 

 " M'Garrison, The Thyroid Gland, London, 1917. 

 ' Lane, Ouifs Hospital Gazette, vol. xxxii., 1918. 



* Gaskell, The Origin of Vertebrates, London, 1908. 



^ Alquier and Thauveny, " Etat de I'Ovaire de Chiennes ayant I'Extirpation 

 partielle ou totale de I'Appareil Thyro-Parathyroidien," C. E. de la Soc. de Biol., 

 vol. Ixvi., 1910. 



