The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-02-19
copyright, 1914, by AS. GE4y)
THE PARATHYRolD GLAND.

we are compelled 10 use animals
such as the dog, the cat, the monkey
and the like for the purpose Of secur-
ing experimental confederation Of
many theories because physiological
chemistry experiments along such
lines generally necessitate extensive
and dangerous surgical procedures.
And although an abundance of expert
mental material is readily obtainable,
the demonstrations of theories enorm-
ously important to man are necessaT-
lily slow, largely because of wide
spread prejudice against considering
conditions in the lower animals an
alogous to those found in the human.
Schiff noted fatal results to dogs
following removal Of the thyroid In
1856 and wrote about it In 1859, but
no notice was taken of his work by
the surgical profession. Again in 1884,
following reports of the removal of
human thyroids by Raverdin in 1882
and Kocher' I'M 1888, Schiff wrote show
ing that after complete extirpation
OF the thyroid all the animals died in
four to twenty-seven days. These ex-
periments were confirmed by various
Observers but In many instances the
symptoms shownuby the animals sub
sequenti to the operation proved to be
of most variable character, not only
in different species, but also TN diff
ferent individuals Of the same species
A few of the animals succumhed in
few days, frequently with the accom-
paniment of commissions; others lived
for some months or even longer and
sank gradually from general lack of
nutrition, but occasionallt a dog would
survive the operation.
In the case of the human being
complete removal induced like var
iety of symptoms, state resembling
myxedema and cretinism "a condition
of deficient development and idiocy),
besides anemia, readiness to fatigue,
sensation OF cold and occasionally
tetany (conyulsions).
The four insignificant pealike par
athyroid (near-thyroid1 glands tucked
away behind the more prominent
thyroid gland for long time escaped
the. eye OF the anatomist, and for a
long time after they were discovered
they were given no particular consid
Grafton. But careful investigation oil
these baby glands by anatomist, his
tologist and embryologist proved them
to be independent organs structurally
and funetionally distinct from any
other tissues, and of vast importance
in the economy.
Experimental investigations demon
stratedi the parathyroids to be vita
; organs of remarkable physiological
activity in a, wide range of ANNA
; organisms. 1T was demonstrated tina
> rabbits. deprived OF these tiny bodies
died In commissions. Gradually thu
significance ofthis observation dawnet
upon surgeons and psychologists.
When the parathyroids alone are re
moved. the animal dies quickly witt
aoute symptoms. including convul
sions; but when the thyroids alon
? are, removed the animal may surviv
for a long period, but will develop
u condition Of chronic malnutrition sim
~ liar to, tho disease known Is myxt
: dema In man.
y The experimental evidence in tn
case of the parathyroids tends to SUI
y port the view that their function col
sists Of I'm some way neutralizing toxi
Substances formed elsewhere In th
!, body. they are poison destroying o.
gans, whose principal function moi
!. probably Is to neutralize the metabo
10 pOisens particularly detrimental I
> the nervous system. Therefore, attt
!, removal Of these GLANDS, death oceal
from the accumulation of the so-cale
naetaholic tetany poisons formed,
the blood and tissues. attacking Ii
nerves in the absence Of the nsrml
: parathyroid secreti0ns.
The tetany (conWilsion) OF pfegna
ey and lactation, epifepsy, exopiithalr
!. ic goiter, paralysis agitans (shakiI
!. palsy and other conditions associate
!. with muscular tnsmor is closely iden
= fed with panathyroid inaaflciene
- And so, too, Ia osteomalacia (morh
N softening of hpne), decaying teeth al
. ricketts,. 1t Is known that lack Of lin
" tcalcium) Ia the organism leads
tetany. hence calcium netabolism
doubtless Influenced BY, the parath
roid glands and the pArathyrejds
= turn are. OF course, gravels inf
~ enced hE lack of calcium. This Il
:. fact OF vast importance. as later
- vestigatiens viii prove.
Many Observers have reported u
injections Of paraShyroid gland
tracts cause the tetany to disappt
without however. protecting the a
nal from a fatal outcome. But in /!
Macallum and VoegtliR reported Il
= injection or ingestion Of calcium sa
:, completely ard instantly checks
symptoms Of tetany arising from
removal of the parathyroids ald
stores the animal TO an apparer
=, normal condition. Similar results y
a. been obtained upon human beings
- fering from tetany as the reSalt
!. unintentional removal of the parai
r.. rods
Obviously, then, wherever there