Annual Address by the President. 
11 
ovary with its corpus luteum is removed in the earliest stages of preg- 
nancy, the ovum fails to become fixed and consequently is passed out 
from the uterine cavity; whereas, if the same ovary and corpus luteum 
are removed when half the period of pregnancy has passed, the foetus 
remains attached. From which, it is concluded, that a hormone is 
formed in the corpus luteum. 
Lastly, I may mention the possibilities of the development of this 
tff hormone” principle to other organs. Take the lddney as an example. 
It is quite within the range of possibility that the kidney produces an 
internal ' secretion that materially affects the metabolism of the human 
body and profoundly influences the processes that result in the forma- 
tion of the nitrogenous substances, which it eventually excretes from 
the blood. Clinically we meet with some cases of uraemia that do not 
conform, to the usual type, as regards the excretion of urinary con- 
stituents. In some cases the urine is normal in quantity, and a twenty- 
four hours’ specimen shows that the amount of urea is not lessened, 
and that the usual amount of solids is being passed. Yet, the patient 
is suffering from constitutional symptoms of a uraemic type, and in 
some cases death results. These cases are hard to understand, and it 
has been suggested that the kidney produces an internal secretion which 
is essential to health, and that certain uraemic cases may result from a 
lack of this secretion. It does seem probable that a gland so concerned 
with getting rid of waste products of metabolism ought to be connected 
directly with the organ or tissues most concerned in the metabolic 
processes. And if the hypothesis is correct, the kidney may by means 
of a “hormone” be able to influence the liver in its metabolism. 
In some forms of pancreatic disease sugar has been observed in the 
urine (diabetes). Careful investigation of the phenomenon has led 
many observers to credit the pancreas with being the producer of an 
internal secretion, which regulates the formation of glucose in the body 
according to the needs of the tissues. Absence of this substance (fer- 
ment or otherwise) is said to allow an undue quantity of glucose to 
pass into the circulation from the liver, and this, not being needed for 
purposes of nutrition^ is excreted by the kidneys. 
Finally, let us consider the functions of the secretions of the ductless 
glands, concerning which so much has been written of recent years. 
Thyroid secretion is known to be absolutely necessary for the con- 
tinuance of life. In order that health may be maintained, the amount 
of thyroid secretion absorbed must be regulated with the greatest care. 
In adults, excessive secretion produces a disease known as “Grave’s 
Disease,” which is characterized by symptoms of overstimulation of the 
nervous system, accompanied by irregular and rapid action of the. heart; 
a disease that often terminates fatally unless the excessive secretion is 
