The internal secretions and the nervous system / by M. Laignel-Lavastine.

  • Laignel-Lavastine, M. (Maxime), 1875-1953.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The internal secretions and the nervous system / by M. Laignel-Lavastine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    TRANSLEATOR’S. INTRODUCTION “Every man, from the highest to the lowest station, ought to warm his heart and animate his endeavors with the hope of being useful to the world, by advancing the art which is his lot to exercise ; and for that end he must necessarily consider the whole extent of its application, and the whole weight of its importance.’—JOHNSON. In making the writings of Laignet-Lavastine accessible to those not familiar with the French language, the translator has certainly hearkened to the admonition quoted above. The importance of the internal secretions, both as etiological factors and as remedial agents, is being recognized more and more and anything which adds to our understanding of this highly com- plex subject should be welcomed with open arms by the medical profession. Organotherapy or the use of animal matter in the treatment of disease is not by any means a new addition to the medical arma- mentarium. It is the intelligent interpretation of the symptom- complexes arising from dysfunction of the endocrine glands and the rational application of the secretions of these glands which anew engages the attention of the medical research worker and clinician alike. The indirect application of animal tissues and organs to the treatment of disease finds its first expression at the sacrificial altar. In gray antiquity, medicine and religion went hand in hand. God only could cure diseases and those of his representatives who were close to him in his service, the high priests, were empowered to execute his will in this direction as well as in religious matters. History records that as far back as 2000-3000 B.C. the treatment of disease was in the hands of the priests in Egypt. In Greece the Asclepiades, the priests of the temple of Asclepias, were entrusted with this important function. And Moses transferred to the priests the knowledge of medicine which he accumulated in Egypt. The Hebrew literature, while replete with medical information, gives but scant evidence of animal therapy. No doubt the term “unclean” which is so frequently employed as a prohibitive injunc- tion with reference to food, hygiene and other matters, comes into play here and accounts for the scant use of animal matter for medic- vil