San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-15

SIKH Is dlltItu 81 IL UtGOtiitS
and harsh to the touch. They are slug
gish, both physically and mentally, their
life is largely vegetative in character.
a Human Vegetable.
"This condition may arise late in
adult life as result of changes in
the thyroid gland, but The most strik-
ing example is in the case of cretins.
Cretins are individuals born either with
out thyroid glands or with glands whose
capacity is very low. Since they sell
dom grow TO adult life, the childish
appearance will be described.
"They have coarse skins, poorly &C.
veloped bodies and no mentality worthy
of the name. They are as nearly u
man vegetables as one could well mag
inc. Left TO themselves, they usually
succumb TO some one or other of the
ordinary diseases of childhood, diseases
well borne by the normal child"
The outlook for such Il child is not
altogether hopeless. DR.. Kelley stated.
BY the administration of thyroid ex-
tract. obtained principally from the pig,
the average case will be caused to pro-
coed to develop in almost a normal man
ner.
On the other hand, when the thyroid
the secretion is greatly increased the
individual is tremendously alert and
nervous and all the processes of the
body are speeded up to such an extent
that it is almost literally case of
burning the candle at both ends" Re
moval of part of the gland helps in
some Of these cases.
Tells of Emotion Of Fear.
TIM fNifttifowx- Gland hn Cfatad hos
been found to control the size and
growth of the body, particularly Of the
bony structure.
The adrenal glands, one at the upper
pole of each kidney. were said by DIR.
Kelley TO have an intimate connection
with the nervous system, ."and the ply
steal manifestations of many of he emo
tons are brought about through the
medium of the adrenal secretions.
"Let us take. for example, the most
common of human emotions, fear. The
! physical cOncomitants of fear, whether
they be offensive or defensive. depend
on the edocrine (glandulary status of
the frightened person. Consider the
case of a man whose adrenal glands
are in good development and functional
condition. Confronted by a situation
in which personal danger or embarras--
ment - imminent, the nervous stimuli
engendered react on the adrenal glands
to augment their function. This in
creased activity results in rise of the
blood pressure, the blood vessels of the
skin contract, driving the blood to the
interior of the body, where il il more
need, the coagulability of the blood in
creases so that it clots faster. These
changes put the organism into the best
possible condition for combat. The in
clination TO pugnacity is heightened. the
adrenal gland is acting as the general
| to mobilize the army. Anger is the nat
ural response to external stimuli of a
| disagreeable nature.
"When in the individual the thyroid
gland is in the ascendancy. the same
sort of stimuli produce a different pic
ture. The hands tremble, the eyes
stare. the face flushes and grows pale.
courage is lacking; even the power of
| flight may be temporarily paralyzed.
Bravery or cowardice is largely a mat
ter of the condition of the ductless
glands"
The product of the adrenal glands
has been prepared alphabetically and is
! extensively used in medicine 10 increase
| the blood pressure.
DR.. Kelley took IN he subject of
the gonads or sex glands at some length
with reference TO their function of in
ternal secretion. which function governs
the differentiation between the sexes
both as to the conformation Of the body
and the emotions. Transplanting of
these glands has been extensively tried
and in some cases has proven partially
and temporarily successful. The prin-
cipal bar to success Eas been host
of Surgical difficulties which will have
to be overcome. When these difficult
ties are overcome, he stated. the next
problem will be that of obtaining a sup
ply of young and suitable gland mate
rial.
If. and when these difficulties are
overcome. may we not hope for the
time when the criminal shall be con-
sidered the sick man he reallJ is; for
the time when the mentally deficient
shall not be thought hopeless; for the
time when men shall grow old with the
| full possession of all powers and proba-
bly, give out eventually like the won
derful one-horse shay?
4%&