Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-18
MEDICAL EXPERT TELLS
why WE STOP GROWING
Explains Fact That Some Become
Giants and Others Remain
DwarfS.

Anyone who has ever thought
ibout the matter at all. has prob
IDLY wondered why he or she. hav-
|'nE begun to grow ever stopped
GROWING. says medical writer In
london Tit Bits.
There arc. of course, men and wo-
men who for certain number OF
years seem to grow up on sort or
nonstop run until. reaching the stat
ire OF giants. they dwarf all the rest
pr their fellow-crcatures. Others. In
he matter OF gowth. are non starters
'r anatomically.
But the majority OF mankind grow
o an average height, which is neither
90 great 10 be unduly conspicuous
crowd. These arc persons In
ghom the rowth-rcgulatinE machin-
rrS liz In normal working order.
The controlling and directing CEN
err OF this height. breadth and weight
regulating mechanism is, little
:land. about the size and color OF :,
berry. called the pituitary body,
Weighing from five TO ten grains. and
ituated on the sphenoid bone. which
orms the front part or the base Of
How docs the pituitary gland do
IL work In regulating growth? Re-
emit research has proved that this
;land produces fluid called "a 'hor-
cnger which passc-; into the blood
nd Is carried by IL to excite the ac-
WITTY Of moro distant organs and
issues.
producing growth-chicfy the nour-
shmcnt taken into the body and abb
orbed after digestion. and the In
reaso in the number OF body cells by
clf-reproduction. But these forces
re somewhat erratic in their action.
nd II requires the power or the pitu-
tary secretion. ans probably that Of
thcr glands. to restrain them within
he limit which Is hest for human
Efficiency.
"ovcrsrowth is duo To the supply
the blood OLA continual overdose
'hormonc.' Giants bones and
thcr tissues grow 10 a pc; mt where
he nourishncnt absorbed and the
muscular and nervous force developed
re not sufficient TO run the machine.
ut would be Of obvious advantage
o the human race II we knew eN-
city how to stimulate the pituitary
then IL is sluggish and to restrain
when over-actIvc.
There is experimental evidence 10
rove that extracts prepared fr~ni
nc pituitary glands of pigs and steers
reduce beneficial results in men and
'omcn with disordercd pituitarics.
is moro than probably that extracts
rom similar glands OF apes. Gle
hants. and other animals are likely
Iead 10 sfili different results.
The brontosaurus. OF which we
ave heard good deal lately M hav-
oE been seen in the rciEhborhood of
Nfrican swamps. is. no doubt. the Ei-
anttc victim OF a prodigiously ac-
I've pituitary gland. Its relatives,
Immediate or remote. owed their in, :
osing bulk TO the vast quantities Of
normone. which their pituitary
lands poured forth until their bodies
rev to he one and 900 feet long
While the pituitary gland. then,
the supreme director. other glands
lay an active part in the work OF
rowth. or these tho 'pineai gland
iust be regarded az having an i'm
ortant share in controlling the pro-
esscs OF growth. This gland IL
ituated within tho brain behind and
hove the eyes. and has 81 compost
ion similar TO that OF the pituitary.
.eading naturalists and anatom!sts
|elievcd that IL was a vcstigr Of a
bird eye which man possessed in :,
ormer stage OF evolution. but recen,
!scovcries suggest that IL has today
real use in the direction of regulai
rs more especially the size OF a
iaa's head