CHANGES IN THE MATERNAL ORGANISM 523 



remnant of the gland, which is sufficient to maintain health in 

 the non-pregnant state, is insufficient after the onset of preg- 

 nancy (Lange ^). 



An increased suprarenal secretion in pregnancy has also been 

 suggested, the effect of which on the blood pressure is normally 

 balanced by the increased thyroid secretion (Nicholson ^). But 

 experimental evidence seems to show that the blood-pressure 

 raising action of the suprarenals is entirely independent of the 

 thyroid gland (Pick and Pineles ^). 



d. The Skin. — The cause of the increased pigmentation of 

 the sldn in pregnancy is little understood. It has been looked 

 on as a simple deposit of pigment, as the result of infection with 

 the microsporon furfur, the cause of pityriasis versicolor which 

 not infrequently attacks pregnant women, and as a subcutaneous 

 hsBmorrhage.* Jeannin ^ &:st suggested that it was derived 

 from haemoglobin set free by the solution of red blood corpuscles. 

 According to Veit * the haemolysis may be produced by the 

 circulation of syncytial elements in the blood. The presence of 

 iron in the pigment, though strongly denied by Truzzi,' has 

 recently been demonstrated by Wychgel.^ He associates its 

 presence with the frequent occurrence of haemoglobinuria in 

 pregnancy. V. Fiirth and Schneider's suggestion that the 

 pigment is derived from tyrosin by the action of a placental 

 tjrrosinase is mentioned elsewhere (Chap. X., p. 481). 



An abnormal development of the hair of the face and body 



' Lange, "Die Beziehungen der Schilddruse zur Sohwangerschaft," 

 Zeitschr.f. Gehurtsh. u. Gynak., vol. xl., 1899. 



^ Nicholson, "Physiological Changes in the Maternal Organism during 

 Pregnancy," Trans. Obatet. Soc. Edinburgh, vol. xxxi., 1905-6. 



^ Pick and Pineles, "Beziehung der Schilddruse zur physiol. Wirkung 

 des Adrenalins," Biochem. Zeitschr., vol. xii., 1908. 



* See V. Winckel's Handhitch der Oeburtshiilfe, vol. i. H. 1. 



" Jeannin, "Observations pour servir h I'histoire du masque des femmes 

 enceintes," Oaz. Hebdom., 1868. 



' Veit and Scholten, " Synzytiolyse und Hamolyse," Zeitschr. f. Geburtsh. 

 u. Qynak., vol. xlix., 1903. 



' Truzzi, " Ueber die Genese der Hyperchromie der Haut in der Gravi- 

 ditat," Monatsschr. f. Geburtsh., vol. xi., 1898. 



' Wychgel, " Untersuchnngen fiber das Pigment der Haut und den Urin 

 wahrend der Sohwangerschaft," Zeitschr. f. Geburtsh. u. Gjudlc., vol. xlvii. 



