Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11


an even more desirable place of residence.
1t would be difficult for the uninitiated to
conceive of any relationship between bow
legs, 3chalky' teeth, crooked spine, and soft
bones, and the little thymus gland in the
chest; yet the improper functioning of this
organ is prominent cause OF ricketts,
which can cause any of these conditions-in
children. The thymus gland seems also to
have an action very similar, or supplemental
to, the thyroids. Disease or deficiency of
the gland has been demonstrated to be
frequent cause of marasmus (malnutrition)
and goiter, and, on the principle that "a
little of the hair of the dog that bit you is
good for the bite thymus substance has
been given with great benefit in these dis
orders.
A ND last and most marvellous of all, is the
no larger than the tip of girls little finger,
situated at the base of the brain, and splen-
didly protected by the dense bone at the
back Of the skull. 1t is well established that
this gland exercises control over all the or
gans of the body, stopping their growth at
point that we recognize as normal, thereby
preventing the accumulation of abnormal
quantities of fat or tissue. One does not
grow too big in any direction when the pitu-
itary gland is bossing the job.
The pituitary consists of two lobes, an
anterior, or front, and posterior, or back
lobe, each with different function. They
have diametrically opposed natures. The
front lobe is DR.. Jekyll,--b benign, virtuous,
and absolutely indispensable for the continu-
ance of life, liberty. and the pursuit of happi-
ness. 1t exerts some wonderful influence
upon the heart and vascular system, regu-
lating the amount of blood that is forced
through the body by that f1eshy pump and
system of conduits. Also the cells of this
lobe secrete remarkable substance called
thaon, which is discharged directly into the
blood stream. 1t may turn out some day
that thaon is the veritable elixir of life.
Ponce de Leon may have carried the foun-
tain of youth right around with him, inside
his head; for when this front lobe is removed
from animals they die. None have ever been
known to live long after its extirpation.
On the other hand, they survive the re-
tain rare occasions, exemplifes all the char
acteristics of Mr.. Hyde. When it gets the
upper hand it proceeds to make life miser
able for its unfortunate owner. A favorite
method is to influence the nutrition in tangi-
BILE and obstrusively visible ways. In some
instances the victim proceeds to "put on
| fat With absolutely no change in diet or
the amount eaten or drunk, he gets fatter
and fatter-until eventually he qualities for
an enviable or unenviable position depend
ing upon the viewpoint) among the freaks
of sideshow, typical mountain of flesh.
Experiments on animals have shown that
| the normal function of the back lobe of the
pituitary gland is essential to the taking up
of sugars and starches by the system, and
any diminution of or interference with this
power leads to high degree of tolerance for
sugars, with the resultant accumulation of
fat. Happily. "there is hope"-as we shall
see later.
FOR hundreds of centuries men have
asked, 3Why do we merely grow to an
average height and breadth? What stops
us from continuing to grow so long as we
are alive? Why should growth be a gradual
process? In fact, why should individuals of
the same species stop growing at practically
the same age and size?'
We gave it up. We recognize average
height, breadth, and thickness as normal;
also that the farther we deviate from these
arbitrary dimensions the more nearly we
come to being classed among the freaks. We
have even idealized our sense of proper pro-
portion, and a David or Perseus with
hands like hams, or the long, knobby-hinged
arms and legs of giant, would be unthink-
A,>l, -