The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-09
CARE
By LOGAN CLENDENING, M. d.

by CLENDENlNG, M. ID
In two previous articles I have
outlined some of the latest re.
searches OF the ductless glands
In the first 1 described some con.
crete results of the use of ductlese
gland extracts in human cases.
In the second 1 pointed out thai
they preside over the functions OF
growth, reproduction, subconscious
bodily functions and personality.
The pituitary gland, which is
close to the base of the brain, has
a secretion which conditions the
action of all of them. When it is
going full speed, they are all 60
ing. When it slows down, they all
slow down.
The Tyroid Gland
The thyroid, the best known of
them because it is subject to the
common disease, goiter, which can
be recognized even by the man on
the street, cantrols, in general,
the rate of our life processes
what is called the basal metabo-
lism. The body, like any engine,
Produces heat as it operates. When
the thyroid whips up to activity,
the heat the body produces is in
creased four or five fold. The heat
regulating mechanism of the body
is not disturbed, so there is no
fever, but the amount of oxygen a
person with a certain type of goiter
consumes is twice or three times
as much as normal. Conversely,
if the gland atrophies. the oxygen
goes 'doWn and the patient feels
cold and sluggish.
Here we have two types of vari-
atoms in the activity of the duct
less glands, and in the case of the
thyroid, we have complete means
Of treating them.If the gland is
o%veractive we can rest it, by rest
ing the whole body; we can shrink
it with the X-ray, or we can re-
move it surgically because it is
easily accessible. If it i not pro-
ducing enough secretion we have
a potent substitute in thyroid ex-
tract which we can feed to the
patient in lieu of the absent secre-
ton.
In the case of some of the other
glands, we III not quite in such a
fortunate strategic position, but
more and more as modern re-
search advances, the scientists OF
The world are producing active ex-
tr;%'t which exactly take the place
of the natural secretions Ct the
glands. Final accomplishment has
not yet been reached with the
secretion of the pituitary gland, of
the adrenal glands, of the gonads,
but the preliminary ground has
been broken.
Parathyroid Glands
The case Of the p~arathyroid
glands is one in point. Those lit
tie button-like structures which lie
behind the thyroid gland in the
neck, have much to do with our
happiness and destiny. They con-
troll calcium and phosphorus nu-
t; :tion, which means they have to
do with bore growth, teeth, the
healing of fractures ard so forth.
They also have to do with muscu-
lar control (Which depends on cal
cium in the blld) and when they
go bad, a condition of trembling,
called "tetany," comes on. We
have now learned how to recognize
the degeneration of the parathy-
roids and we have an active ex-
tract of parathyroid secretion. But
we have also learned that calcium
must be given at the same time,
as we'll as Vitamin D, which seems
to stabilize the action of the para
secretion.
Questions and Answers
G. W.T. have heard that wear
ing a leather cap will make a
person bald-headed. This may ap-
pear funny, but I have heard it
SO often I am beginning to wonder
# it is true"
Answer-No, in spite of the ru-