If, following an infectious disease, a child has wasting of this
gland, or if, living in a certain district, it has a large goitre,
normal development does not take place, and the child does not grow in
mind or body and becomes what is called a cretin. More than this--if in
adult life the gland is completely removed, or if it wastes, a somewhat
similar condition is produced, and the patient in time loses his mental
powers and becomes fat and flabby--myxedematous. It has been shown
experimentally in various ways that the necessary elements of the
secretion can be furnished by feeding with the gland or its extracts,
and that the cretinoid or myxedematous conditions could thus be cured or
prevented.
Experimental work has also demonstrated the functions of the suprarenal
glands and explained the symptoms of Addison's disease, and chemists
have even succeeded in making synthetically the active principle
adrenalin.
There is perhaps no more fascinating story in the history of science
than that of the discovery of these so-called ductless glands. Part
of its special interest is due to the fact that clinicians, surgeons,
experimental physiologists, pathologists and chemists have all combined
in splendid teamwork to win the victory.
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