Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-02-05
(Copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
pUcTLESS GLANDS.

AL u 6cuSTdl way WudI may OS ooiu
cf any single ductless gland may in a
large measure be said of them all.
Their functions are mainly two. First,
by reason of either individual or CO.
operative secretions they govern the
metabolism in the body. Second.
these same secretions build up and
maintain the body's resistance to dis
ease by cleansing the blood OF the
different poisons which 1t accumu-
lates in its current from time to time.
1t is believed that the internal gland
secretions whet the appetite of the
white blood corpuscles. or leucocytes.
the body's germ destroyer, as a step
in this protective plan.
The biochenic salts involved in the
breaking down (katabolic) and the
building up (anabolic) processes OF
the body; the 16, and perhaps more,
mineral eIments existing in organic
or living form in the universe and re-
quired to maintain the metabolism OF
all the cells Of the human body, are
governed, regulated and controlled by
the ductless glands. This. Of couse,
is reciprocal reaction, because
obviously there must be something to
govern II the glands are to function,
and it is equally obvious that the
glands cannot function in the absence
Of these elements or minerels. There
being no ducts leading into these
glands, it il very clear that nothing
can get either into or out Of them
except by means Of the blood stream.
Hence, the profound physical and men.
tai disturbance following any disar-
rangement in the natural or physiolog-
ical food supply. f2.
The largest of the ductless glands is
the thyroid, situated in the fore part
of the neck, midway between the
Adams apple" Thyroid CARTILAGE
and the top of the breastbone (stern-
um), a point just behind where the
average man wears his collar button.
The gland comprises two sections, or
lobes, one lying on either side Of
the windpipe (larynx), connected by
neck, or isthmus, the whole forming
a fat oval body about three inches
long.
Because the general shape suggests
a long, oval, shield, the name thy
!! roid" was taken from the Greek Ian
guage--it means. literally, shieldlike.
The thyroid gland is reddish-brown
in color and has vascular structure
that is to say, the interior is honey
combed with minute sacs Ike the In
terror Of an orange, each tiny bladder
of which under normal conditions 10
filled with a yellow gluelike compound
known as "colloid," substance diff
fusing not at all. or very slowly.
through animal membranes. Access
sorry thyroids, varying In size and num-
Der, may be found along the lower
windpipe (trachea) from the larynx
as far down as the heart. These &C
cessories possess the same vascular
structure and are supposed to have
a function similar to that of the thy
roid body. Il. .,, ,,.-'.
There are several highly significant
facts in connection with the general
structure and composition of the thy.
roid body that 1t is advisable to keep
constantly in mind while considering
this subject. Throughout the whole
range of animal and vegetable life the
catalytic engines, or ferments. are
constantly busy. They are vitality
and fundamentally concerned with life
In all its phases, SO much SO that phys
iology IL rapidly resolving itself into
branch Of catalysis. So many cata-
lytic agents are. ''colloids" and the
colloidal condition is SO tangled up
with catalytic action, ferments and en-
zymes. it is practically impossible, in
our present state Of knowledge, to
distinguish one from the other It
should be remembered, too, that all
kinds of metals and compounds of
metals have this powerful catalytic
presence" the potency of which may
be so high that in many instances the
proportion of but one part to the
thirteenth decimal point will bring
about astonishing reactions. mean
time, the catalyzing substance itself
being quite unaffected by its remark
allie exertions; 1t remains as potent
as ever and may be used over and
over again. .S b \: "a. @
No other gland, large or small, re.
ceives proportionally SO great and d.
rect supply Of blood as the thyroid.
All these facts considered together
are sufficient to warrant us In accept
ing the thyroid as q most important
organ and should also prepare US to
expect very grave physical results
from any disturbance Of its functions.
Snugly tucked away behind the thy.
roid, two Of them on either side Of
the larynx and often actually mbed-
ded in the tissue of that gland. are
four small bodies known as the par.
athyroids.'' @ y. &. y
The adrenal glands take their name
from the kidney; lad" meaning addi.
ton, or proximity to, and renal be-
/ Ing anntS Ter name for kidney frhese
two additional kidney glands are nat.
lima bean shaped bodies. each about
one and one.half inches long. and they
lie IN intimate relation with and at the
top OF each kidney. II 10 believed
both the inner (medullary) and the
outer (cortical) parts Of the adrenal
glands. make contributions to the
blood stream. The absence OF this
medullary secretion, produces . fall
In blood pressure which u fatal u
Suspended BY Z short stalk from the