GROWTH OF THE THYMUS

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Abstract
The thymus gland has been described as either the sole cause or an associated cause of several pathologic conditions. Each concept advanced as to its origin, function, growth and pathologic significance has immediately been challenged. The result in the literature is chaos. In general, the studies on the thymus can be divided into three main groups: first, its mechanical effects; second, its significance in lymphatism, and, third, its growth and involution. Under the mechanical effects, Plater (1614), according to Ruhräh's "Pediatrics of the Past," was the first to describe a death, "mors thymica," caused by suffocation from pressure made on the trachea by the thymus. His description reads like many necropsy records of the present time in which death is ascribed to status thymicolymphaticus. The anatomic relations given by Plater1are those found in all infants. In this group belong also the clinical pictures attributed to the pressure of

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