The Dolores star., 1915-01-29

from.
HoRMoNGa.
Taken from the Greek language
and meaning to arouse or excite. the
word "hormcnes" 10 intended to dcsig'
nate = series OF chemical bodies man
nfsctured within tho cells Of ono or
gan and entering the circulation 70
excite or stimulate distant organs into
activity.
II has generally been supposed that
the digestive functions were carried
on solely under reflex nerve control.
But Edkins In 1906 carried out -
ries OF experiments TO determine
whether . chemical mechanism may
not also. account for the secretion OF
Gastric Juice. which 10 excited by the
Introduction Of substances into the
stomach. In series Of carefully con.
trolled observations Il was proved that
the mere Introduction Of neutral 90
luton into the stomach caused no So
erection Of gastric Juice and that there
was no absorption Of the solution. the
fluid removed at the end OF m hour
having the same bulk and the same
neutral reaction A. the solution orig
inally introduced.
The injection OF peptone. Of acid. Of
broth. or Of dextrin into the blood
stream produced no secretion Of Gas.
trio juice. but II In the course Of the
hour during which the fluid was d.
lowed to remain In the stomach . 90
luton made BY boiling mucous MEM
brane from the pyloric end Of . stom.
ach with water. or with acid. or with
peptone. was injected into the blood
stream at. intervals Of about ten min
utes. then the fluid withdrawn from
the stomach At the end OF the hour
was found to be distinctly acid and to
have protein digestive powers-that
10 to say. II now contained hydro
ehloric acid and pepsln.
Similar solutions made from the car.
diac end Of the stomach will not pro.
duce any secretion Of acid and pepsin.
and this 10 held 70 prove that the
pyloric end Of the stomach produces .
substance which II absorbed into the
blood stream and carried TO al the
glands Of the stomach. where Il acts
~ . specific excitant Of their secrs-
tory activity. This substance has been
called the gastric "secretin"-it %
what Startling named . "hormone.
Normal gastric secretion appears to
be due TO two cooperating factors.
The inst and most important 10 the
secretion arising from nerve impulses
produced through the pneumosastric
nerve and originating In the idea Of
food In the higher parts Of the brain.
from the sight OF food and by the
stimulating OF the mucous membranes
Of the mouth. The second factor pro-
vides for the continued secretion Of
gastric Juice long after the mental
effects have disappeared. This 10
chemical and depends on the produc.
ton In the cells 1t the pyloric end Of
the stomach Of specific stimulant or
hormone, which being absorbed into
the blood 10 carried TO Oh parts Of the
body. where Il exc!tes the glands con.
cerned In the digestive act.
The researches OF Pawlow and 9th.
ers seem TO Indicate that the quantity
and the properties OF the secretlous
vary with the character OF the food
eaten. The quantity Of the secretion
varies also. other conditions being the
rame. with the amount Of food 70 10
digested.
On Q given diet the secretion 90.
sumes certain characteristics and
Rwiow 10 convinced that further
work viii disclose that the secretion
Of the stomach 10 not caused normally
By general stimuli affecting II all alike
but By tpecific stimuli contained eth.
Or In tho food or produced during d.
ssstiou from the food contents the
action Of which 10 Of such . kind -
10 arouse fenexiy the secretion best
adapted to the particular food IN.
gestsd. Undoubtedly this 10 due y
the hormones In the circulation.
Another significant hint Of this %.
tion IL furnished BY the experiments
Of starting and Lane Clayton on the
mammary glands. These investisa,
tors found that the extracts made
from ne body Of the fstus when IN.
ieeted repeatedly into the blood
stream Of n virgin rabbit caussd Q
genuine development Of the mammary
glands, closely Stimulating the growth
that normally occurs during preg.
nancy. similar sxtracts made fvom
ovaries. plscentai and utesine Tissues
had no such effect: hence. they con.
cluds that . specific chemical Sub
stancs, . hormone. 10 produced In the
fstus itself which being absorbed lao
the maternal blood acts upon the
mammary gland. stimulating u y
gvvth.
There 10 Adaptable svidsnes q
the existence Of similar bodies whtoA
dstssmine ths ssersloey activity ooeh
Of the liver q ssli = u ~ lstse
tiDai slsnlA