San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-07
Listen, World!
About Glands
By Elsie Robinson

Henry Plrdce wants 10 hhO"
what's all this fuss about glands? Is
there any sense to it,"
Yes, there's great deal of sense
70 if. Henry. The discoveries con-
corning the endocrine glands (Siands
of internal secretion) are fast revolu-
ionizing all our theories about human
development and behavior.
Before you can understand how i'm
portant these discoveries are, it IS
we'll to know just what is meant by
"cndocrinc glands"
There are many glands in the body.
Some have external ducts, or openings,
These are called ductless glands. 9th.
rrs discharge directly into the blood
and are called glands of internal Sc
cretion" or "cndocrines."
In his remarkable new book. why
We Behave Like Human Beings DR..
George A. Dorsey says:
There are commonly said to be
seven endocrines proper-thyrold
parathyroid and thymus in the neck
/ pituitary and pineal in the center OF
the head; adrenals and spleen in the
! abdomen. But it is not yet proved
that the thymus. pincal and spleen are
true glands. The liver, pancreas and
sex glands also function as cndocrincs.
"Endocrine secretions are chemical
| in nature and are usually called hor-
moncs (cxciters). They are also call
cd autocoid substances; from acos, o
rcmcdy-they act like drugs. In fact
no man-made drugs are as powerful
as some we make in our own drug
store glands"
We know very little about the func-
lions of some of these glands, the thy
mus, for instance. The pineal gland
too, remains n mystery. This is a
tiny gland about the size of n grain
Of wheat which lies high up in the
base of the brain. 1t reaches full de-
velopment in our seventh year and
then begins to atrophy. But though
the pincal gland has revealed little OF
its modern Use, it hes told us Won
dcrful story of our primitive life.
millions of years ago." says Or.
Dorsey. this pineal gland was a third
eye and looked straight up TO heaven
Extinct reptiles have a hole in the
skull for this pineal eye
Certain living reptiles still have
this opening in the skull, but it is
covered with a scale. Even we hui
mans still have vestigc of an oput
nerve to show that once We saw with
three eyes instead of two. -.
Then there's the pituitary gland
, ncighbor to the pineal. Dwarfs and
giants were once a mystery to the
human race. something abnormal. al
most supernatural. Now we believe
that this tiny gland is responsible fol
the rate of growth and sexual develop
ment.
The three glands concerning which
we have made the most amazing dis
coveries are the thyroid, in our throat
the adrenals, just above the kidneys
and the gonads, or sex glands,
Why are some people duh, DRY
skinned. listless, slow of pulse? Why
, are others hideously deformed. heavy
featured, simple minded. gibbcring
Why do others h. c goiter? All thest
conditions have now been traced t.
the functioning of the thyroid glant
and many of them have been curet
by feeding thyroid secretion.
The story of the adrenals is ever
: more amazing. 1t was easy to tie VI
bodily deficiency with some inward
disturbance. But how about tempera
,, mcnts? What of these eXcitable peopl
who are always trying to pick a fight
, How about the sensitive, melanchOl.
: pcople who are al dys in the dumps
How about the towards and the bully
I Surely glands are not responsible 10
those?
But they are. The adrenal CLAN
secretcs adren which is now
, marketable drug and sold as adrenalir
Adrcnalin has specific action on tn
flow of the blood, the nervous actor
the alimcntary canal and the mobilizf
ton of sugar in the body. Its effeC
II on the emotions and on behavior ]
general is equally far reaching. Th
II adrenals regulate our excitement-ou
angers-our griefs-our urge to tlgi
all our more violent manifestation
DIR. Dorsey says: Emotional D.
havior gets its kick from adrenll
With adrcnin. towards may fight Il
S their lives, brave men may surpa'
:, themselves, and all Of us can run
o we never ran before; or shed tears
Y sorrow over the loss of friends
+ This knowledge makes for tole
c ancc. 1t helps us to, understand II
d man who has too little spirit, and Il
/ man who has too much.
b Most important of all are the 81
It glands. The usual functions of Il
II sex glands are known. but it is not
IS generally known that their influen
y, extends through all human behavio
e Sex" says DIR. Dorsey, lis wov'
&c into every fabric of human life nj
n LAYS its finger on every custom"
lie underlics the highest cultures, as w
" as the most degenerate cruelty.
lie pcrmcntes religion and art. II lies
IL the root of all civilization and
Ne savngery."
Copyright, 1926, King Features Syn, II