Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-12

wv the color and texture of a mans
skin and hair, the form of his
features, his stature, the proportion of his
Imbs-all of his physical characteristics
which mark him as belonging to certain
race-and many of the traits of mind and
character which are associated with those
physical characteristics, are regulated by
half dozen small glands in the body, is
one Of the most revolutionary of the recent
conclusions of science.
This much of the evidence for new
theory is set forth by Arthur Keith, Brit
ish scientist, in an article recently pub
lished by the Smithsonian Institution in
this country.
This new idea is revolutionary in more
ways than one. 1t upsets the old Darwinian
theory of sexual selection as the mechanism
of race variation, as completely as that,
for the scientist, upset the Biblical notions
on the subject. 1t shows that what we
call racial characteristics are by no means
confined to persons Of the race with which
they are associated. In persons of the pure
Nordic strain there may be Monaghan or
negro physical characteristics, and they are
apt to be evidence Of mental and emotional
traits such as are associated with those
races. In word, here is a new key to the
mystery of human character. flat nose,
a projecting lower jaw, an exceptional
length of leg or size of hand has new
significance for the careful observer, when
ne KNOWS THAT LuSS6 puySlCdl CudI dCICIl0ClCS
show the degree of development of certain
of the controlling glands, and that these
glands have a definite effect on mind as
we'll as on body.
Control of Growth
Lastly, it seems certain that in the
course Of time knowledge Of the ductless
glands will give man a control over his
own characteristics such as he never had
before. 1t would be a rash prediction, of
the kind which every conservative scientist
deplores, to say that lace characteristics
will be controlled, that baby born black
may be turned white, and stocky, flat
| faced Tartar child be made to grow tall
and have the salient features of Nordic;
! but something of the kind is certainly in
some degree possible. Scientists have al
ready produced marked changes in physical
DEVELOPMENT by administering the extract of
| some of these glands. Thus a disease
| known myxoedema has been found to
be due Wholly to the 9h the
often ye11owish and the hair tends to
controls in some degFee the he deyelop 1hs3
sd RSlH ana s-
eontEo1 ,x5e nan b. mas AZ
5d9a 81 , 15f2-
the fu sand5 dono pg
mentation. And it has been found that
the action Of any Of the duCtleSS glands
may generally be regulated by administering
extract of those giand lends taken ken from the
or yellow child be made white by treat
ment with suprarenal extract begun inI
infancy? Probably only experiment would
show, and very likely the experiment
would be dangerous; but it is likely that
the tissues of the child would not be suf
ficently receptive of the added suprarenal
substances to produce the desired effect.
Each of these ductless glands seems
to have two sets of activities in that they
affect both the immediate activities of the
body and its form of growth.
The Cause of Giants
The pituitary gland which is situated att
the base of the brain is about the size of
a cherry, is known to have control over the
size of the body. Disorders of it the
disease known as acromegaly, which isl
marked especially by enlargement of the
hands and feet. arrangements of this gland
are also known to be the cause of all cases
of giantism-that is, of men who grow to be
seven feet or more in height. An unusual