1909.] 



The Functions of the Pituitary Body. 



453 



Peesent Observations. 



During the last two years I have been engaged in attempting to elucidate 

 the question of the function of the several parts of the organ. Dr. W. Cramer 

 at first, and more lately Dr. H. Pringle, have materially assisted me in 

 chemical examinations connected with the research, and Dr. Pringle has 

 given me help in various other ways, including the histological examination 

 of the pituitaries. I am indebted to Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome, and Co. 

 for a supply of material in the shape of pituitaries in both the fresh and 

 prepared condition. 



Most of the pituitary material used has been obtained from fresh ox 

 pituitaries which had been kept for a few days (while being collected and 

 sent) in a bottle with chloroform. Each gland was then taken, its connec- 

 tive tissue capsule removed, and the larger anterior part separated from the 

 much smaller posterior part — the latter including also the pars intermedia. 

 The separated portions were spread thinly on glass and dried thoroughly on 

 a warm plate at a temperature of about 40° C, and in this state were 

 powdered and preserved. 



Anterior Lobe. 



Feeding Experiments. 



With this material a series of feeding experiments has been planned and 

 in part carried out on white rats, both young and adult, the animals being 

 usually kept three or four together in a cage, with a similar number, 

 generally from the same litter, in a second cage as a control. The cages are 

 contrived so that the urine and faeces are separately collected, and are 

 contaminated as little as possible with the food, which has consisted of bread 

 and milk in a certain constant proportion made into the consistency of 

 a thick paste. This paste is placed within a cylindrical beaker. Upon the 

 top of the paste, but within the beaker, rests a heavy metal disk with 

 a central hole large enough for the snout of a rat to pass through. By this 

 means the animals are permitted to feed at any time, the metal ring always 

 falling as the food decreases, so that the rats cannot scatter the food over 

 the cage as otherwise they are apt to do. The amount of food consumed was 

 determined (in some of the experiments) each day by weighing the beaker and 

 its contents. The urine was allowed to accumulate in a vessel containing 

 abundance of thymol for a regular number of days — usually four or seven — 

 and was then examined for amount, reaction, specific gravity, percentage of 

 urea, and in some cases for phosphorus content. The fasces were removed 

 daily and reserved when it appeared necessary ; they showed no difference 

 vol. lxxxi. — b. 2 L 



