208 
EXTRACTS FROM GERMAN JOURNALS. 
emulsion obtained by trituration of the testicles of freshly 
killed animals. 
Poehl distinguishes the sperma as the active principle of 
this emulsion. Experiments by Prof. Tarchanoff have devel¬ 
oped the fact that in man and animals alike sperma acts as a 
tonic, spending itself upon the nervous organism. 
Respecting the occurrence of the sperma, it may be stated 
that not alone is it the exclusive product of the male animal, 
as was earlier supposed, but also of the opposite sex, being 
secured from various glands and organs of both sexes ; it is a 
normal constituent of the female. 
Naturally the greatest amount of sperma is secured from 
the testicles, following which, in the order named we have the 
prostate gland, pancreas, spleen, thyroid glands and lastly, 
as containing the least amount of the fluid, come the ovaries. 
H. believes that sperma circulates in the general system. 
Vasalle has obviated the cachexia strumipriva, when 
caused by extirpation of the thyroids, by injections of the se¬ 
cretions of these glands. The operation in this case being evi¬ 
dently dependent upon the sperma contained therein. 
Young dogs and guinea-pigs which receive daily injections 
of 0.02 g. of sperma for several months, become more devel¬ 
oped and bulky than control animals of the same species. 
Prof. Minkowski has observed diabetes, due to removal of 
the pancreas, to disappear upon inserting a particle of this same 
gland under the tegument; this is also to be referred to the 
excessive spermin capacity of the organ. There have been 
numerous instances recorded in which the sperma injections 
have operated beneficially upon diabetic patients, even caus¬ 
ing a total suspension of the saccharine material in the urine. 
Concerning the application of a watery extract of the vari¬ 
ous organs, as a medicinal agent, Brown-Sequard and 
d’Arsonval say the following: “ All animal tissues may and 
will be applied, with the lapse of time, as medicinal agents; 
in this particular direction we see the foundation of a new 
therapy, whose constitutents are obtained or extracted from 
the physiological products of the animal body.” 
Since the injection of watery infusion is not unattended 
