ADENOLQGY. THE ENDOCRINOUS GLANDS AND THEIR EXTRACTS 287 



or research which the hemadenologist should carry to an early 

 termination. 



The thymus in various ways claims the attention of the hemadeno- 

 logist. Its temporary existence associated it with development and par- 

 ticularly with that of the brain and osseous system. Idiocy, thymic as- 

 phyxia, and status lymphaticus are doubtless but a few of the disorders 

 the thymus may awaken. Adenoids, enlarged . tonsils, and rickets are 

 kindred conditions which greater knowledge concerning the functions of the 

 thymus will tend great'y to elucidate. Rickets and stunted growth 

 belong to the same category. 



The reproductive organs present features which distinctly belong to 

 the domain of the hemadenologist. What knowledge of the functions of 

 the internal secretions of the testes, ovaries, and corpora lutea has already 

 been garnered, has contributed much to our therapeutic i;esources in 

 conditions which formerly found us relatively powerless. The observa- 

 tions of Brown-Sequard to the effect that the energy of the nerve centres 

 and cord is stimulated and that the individual is endowed with physical, 

 moral, and intellectual characteristics of sex by means of orchitic injec- 

 tions, denote a wide field of usefulness, beside the treatment of sexual 

 impotence. Menopause, physiological and post-operative, amenorrhea, 

 and kindred disorders of the female studied adequately from this new view- 

 point cannot but prove fruitful." 



The following is a brief summary of the functional activities and uses 

 of the ductless glands. 



I. The Tonsils. — These are two almond shaped bodies lying one on 

 either side at the entrance to the fauces. They are most prominent in 

 childhood, beginning to reduce after puberty. These glands have been 

 utterly neglected by physiologists and practically nothing is known re- 

 garding their function, either actual or problematical. Though neglected 

 by the physiologists and merely located in space by the anatomists, they 

 have not been neglected by the surgeon. The rule seems to be to remove 

 every tonsil that can be removed, whether there is reason for so doing or 

 not, and this despite the fact that many after effects of operations on 

 childern have been most serious. The surgeon tries to explain these cases 

 by statmg that it was the fault of the operation, the tonsil being only 

 partially removed, leaving a decayed and infected root, others that the 

 ill consequences should not be laid to the operation, but rather to the 

 delay in having the tonsils removed. In many directions there is manifest 

 a tendency to some hesitation about removmg tonsils that are sound or 

 that are only slightly infected. Various suggestions have been offered 

 as to the function of the tonsils, all of which are largely guessing. One is 

 that they protect against infections to both the respiratory tract and the 



