10 



Scientific Proceedings (6i). 



the result of true labor contractions, we can not assign to the 

 posterior lobe of the hypophysis the role of hormone for the 

 induction of normal labor. It is true that during pregnancy the 

 pituitary gland hypertrophies and that after the expulsion of the 

 fetus retrograde changes occur. This hypertrophy is limited to 

 the true glandular lobes, the anterior and middle divisions. The 

 posterior lobe shows no sign of increased activity. But it is from 

 the posterior lobe, and from this alone, that the ecbolic principle 

 can be obtained. Furthermore, Kohn denies the existence of an 

 active substance in the posterior lobe during life. He believes 

 that extracts of the gland owe their activity to some decompo- 

 sition product which is formed during the manufacture of the 

 extract. These facts seem to indicate that the posterior lobe is 

 not concerned with normal labor. Though extracts of the pos- 

 terior lobe are pharmacologically very active, the lobe itself is 

 not essential to life. Complete removal of this portion of the 

 gland does not interfere in any way with normal bodily activity. 

 It is the anterior lobe which is essential to life. Oddly enough, 

 extracts of this lobe have not been shown to have a demonstrable 

 pharmacological activity. But it is this lobe which hypertrophies 

 during pregnancy. It is apparent that if the pituitary gland is 

 to be regarded as intimately concerned with the onset of labor, 

 the hormone should be sought not in the posterior lobe but in the 

 anterior portion of the gland. 



7 (939) 



On the action of temperature and humidity on the organism. 



By Frederic S. Lee and Ernest L. Scott. 



[From the Department of Physiology, Columbia University, 

 New York.] 



The main object of the present research is to discover whether 

 objective signs of physical inefficiency may be found in individuals 

 when subjected to an atmosphere of high temperature and high 

 humidity. Cats were used as the subject of experimentation, 

 and were confined individually for a period of six hours within a 

 small chamber supplied with abundant moving air. With one 



