466 



Prof. E. A. Schafer. 



[July 22, 



increased activity of renal cells, but there appear to be others which cause 

 constriction of renal vessels and diminished activity of renal cells ; the effects 

 of these latter are generally less lasting. There is also usually an inhibitory 

 effect produced on the heart. 



4. Extirpation of the pituitary body is incompatible with survival during 

 more than two or three days. Injury of the organ when not extensive 

 causes no pronounced symptoms other than increased secretion of urine, 

 which is accompanied by increased production of colloid by the pars 

 intermedia. Complete removal of a pituitary tumour in man should not be 

 attempted, since entire removal of the gland would in all probability be 

 speedily fatal. 



5. Acromegaly and gigantism appear to be due to an increase of function 

 of the anterior lobe alone. It is this lobe which is always in the first 

 instance hypertrophied in those affections. If the posterior lobe is involved 

 polyuria is likely to result. The fatal termination which ultimately occurs 

 in acromegaly — but which may be long deferred — is probably associated with 

 a change in the nature of the tumour, which from being a mere glandular 

 hyperplasia becomes of a sarcomatous nature, while the normal tissue becomes 

 destroyed. 



6. The addition of a small but regular amount of pituitary substance to 

 the food produces an increase in the amount of urine secreted. This effect is 

 obtained from the pars intermedia and posterior lobe, not from the anterior. 

 Implantation of the pituitary of another individual of the same species may 

 produce a similar effect on the urine, causing an increase of secretion which 

 may last a short time but soon disappears. 



7. The addition of a small amount of pituitary substance to the food 

 appears to favour the growth of young animals : it does not impede or 

 restrict their growth. The attempts at implantation of pituitary in young 

 animals have not in these experiments been followed by any deterioration in 

 growth as compared with controls ; if anything, there are signs of improved 

 nutrition. But we have not succeeded in establishing permanent grafts, 

 and any result which might be looked for could only be of a temporary 

 character. 



LITEEATUEE. 



A very full bibliography of the subject of the pituitary body and of acromegaly in 

 relation to it is given by Masay in his thesis (see below), published in 1908. The follow- 

 ing papers are more particularly referred to in the preceding pages — some of these are 

 subsequent to Masay 's thesis : — 

 Azam, J. ThSse, Paris, 1908. 



Ballet and Laignal-Lavestine. ' Nouv. icon. d. 1. Salpetri£re,' 1905. (Case of acro- 

 megaly associated with enlargement of anterior lobe only.) 



