354 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



marked influence over the phosphorus metabolism, and the 

 improvement which sets in after the removal of these organs in 

 cases of osteomalacia is apparently brought about by a re- 

 tention of the earthy phosphates whereby the skeletal tissues 

 acquire their normal rigidity. Unfortunately, the experimental 

 work which has so far been done upon the phosphorus meta- 

 bohsm in normal and castrated animals is too contradictory to 

 admit of the deduction of any conclusions that are calculated 

 to throw light upon the phenomena of osteomalacia.^ 



The protein metabohsm of castrated animals has been in- 

 vestigated by Liithje,^ who records no changes as a consequence 

 of the removal of the generative glands. Certain other in- 

 vestigators, as a result of shorter series of experiments, have 

 obtained trifling effects, sometimes showing a shght increase 

 in the nitrogenous output and sometimes a diminution.^ 



Experiments upon the respiratory exchange have been 

 almost equally inconclusive, and have so far failed to show any 

 constant alteration as a consequence of castration. This 

 question is discussed at some length by van Noorden,* who 

 calls attention to the necessity for distinguishing whether the 

 total daily metabohsm, which in some cases has been shown 

 to become diminished after castration, does so in consequence 

 of a variation in temperament (or greater tendency towards 

 physical repose), or whether the oxidation of the resting cell 

 {i.e. the fundamental metabohsm) is reduced. He is disposed 

 to beheve that the marked diminution in the respiratory ex- 

 change which has been observed in some animals after castration 

 is probably due to a greater indolence, and is, therefore, an 

 indirect result. Moreover, he points out that, in the case of 



but with the return of menstruation, which followed after about two months, 

 the symptoms of the disease are said to have reasserted themselves (Stuttgart 

 Medical Congress, Zeit. f. Gynak., 1996). See also Fraenkel, " Ovarialan- 

 tikorper und Osteomalacia," Munch, Med. Wochenschr., No. 25, 1908. 



• Van Noorden, Metabolism and Practical Medicine, English Edition, edited 

 by Walker Hall, vol. i., London, 1907. According to Wallart, "Ueberdas 

 Verhalten der interstiellen Eierstocksdriise bei Osteomalacia," Zeitsch. f. 

 Oeb. und Oyndk., vol. Ixi., 1908, osteomalacia is correlated with an increase 

 of the interstitial cells in the ovary. 



2 Liithje, " Ueber die Kastration und ihre Folgen,'' Experim. Archiv, 

 vol. xlviii., 1902, and vol. 1., 1903. 



' Van Noorden, loc. cit. * Ibid. 



