STUDIES ON THE CONDITIONS OF ACTIVITY IN ENDOCRINE GLANDS

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Abstract
The evidence for and against emotional stimulation of secretion from the adrenal medulla is reviewed. The advantages of using the denervated heart in the surviving animal as an indicator of extra secretion of adrenin are pointed out: it readily permits a graphic record, repeated observations may be made on the same animal under normal conditions, control tests can be carried out on the same animal after inactivation of adrenals, and the increased heart rate is a rough measure of the increase of adrenalin from the blood. Minor movements of the cat with denervated heart, such as extending the legs, turning the body, or walking, resulted in an average increase in heart rate in 27 tests of 15 beats per min. After adrenal inactivation, the same movements in 23 tests resulted in an average increase of 1 beat per min. Emotional excitement roused by bringing a barking dog near the cat or restraining the cat in a holder, and manifested by erection of hairs and minor movements (e.g., hissing, snarling, retraction of ears, baring of teeth), was accompanied by an average increase of 22 beats per min. in 45 tests. After inactivation of the adrenals the same conditions caused an average increase of 2 beats per min. in 39 tests. Great emotional excitement plus vigorous activity, such as occurred when the cat was caged and barked at by a dog, or struggled in the holder for even so short a time as 1 min., caused an average increase of 49 beats in 53 tests. After exclusion of the medulliadrenal factor, the average increase in 43 tests under similar circumstances was 5 beats per min. After a cat has been caged and excited by a barking dog for 1 min., the disturbance thus induced may persist for 20-25 min., although meanwhile the animal is resting quietly. The importance of the relation of secreted adrenalin to efficacy in muscular efforts, and that control of muscular activity in excitement would minimize the effects of an emotional storm, are pointed out. It is suggested that physical effort may have nearly the same effect in the body as great excitement and may thus be substituted for it as a means of exercising bodily functions. The authors indicate that the persistence of the excited state after disappearance of the conditions which induce excitement has important bearings on hygiene. The bearing of the results on the "emergency theory" is discussed.

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