ENDOCRINE THEORY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 9

ENDOCRINE THEORY

ITS GREAT IMPORTANCE

DR. HERBERT ON SCHOOL'

INFLUENCE

GOVERNING GOOD HEALTH

The series of lectures by leading medical men, arranged under the auspices of the Red Cross Society, has produced very interesting contributions to the discussions concerning the general health of the community. The value of. the series was further enhanced this week, When Dr. W. E. Herbert spoke on "The Prevention of Disease," and, not the least interesting section of his address concerned what is known as endocrinology—ai study of the endocrine theory. He dealt impressively with the influence of school life on the health of the people generally.

"Other lecturers," he told his audience, "have explained to you how disease may be prevented in various. manners. 'Thus Sir Donald M'Gaviu outlined how improved methods of sanitation have redped the death rate of all infections diseases. Dr. Hardwick Smith showed you how the health of all could! be improved by a better knowledge of dietetics. Up to the present, however, it has never been thoroughly understood how the neglect of these precautions andi the effects of disease itself, more or less, permanently damage the health of the individual. The recent advance in the study of endocrinology gives promise of great and far-reaching results! By endocrinology, we mean the study of the functions and actions of the various internal secretory glands of the body, and' the conditions which, help to maintain their normal equilibrium on the one hand, thus giving health, or pervert their, action on the other hand, with resultant ill-health. \ . PRESERVING ENDOCRINE EFFICIENCY. ; >"The internal glands are situated in various parts of the body, and their function, roughly speaking, is to secrete into the blood substances which, in proper proportiwis, are essential for the healthy growth and development of every tissue of the body. Thus, if ive protect our endrocrine glands, they will protect us. The most important of these glands are the thyroid, the parathyroids, the thymus, the adrenals, the pituitary, and the male and female re-, productive glands. Each of these, indi-' vidually in conjunction with others, exerts at various periods of our life an influence which practicaly governs good health." After quoting eminent authorities who supported the endocrine theory and claimed much for its study, Dr. Herbert said: "All this raises the practical question: can we do more than we are doing at present to preserve our endocrine efficiency? I think so. There are three conditions of a marked influence—-(1) which may be termed the school influence; (2) chronic excessive alcoholism; (3) syphilis." PRAISE FOR MEDICAL WORK IN SCHOOLS. Dealing first with the school influence, Dr. Herbert said he wanted it to be distinctly understood that by using that term he did not even suggest any sweeping denunciation of the New Zealand schools. He used the term advisedly, nevertheless, for he believed that in the future the schools would become spheres of medical education, upon which the soundest foundation for good health; could be constructed. . "In my opinion," said Dr. Herbert, "by far the best address given before this society 'was that delivered by Dr. Ada Patterson. I feel, however, that the public does not fully realise the value of the work that is being done by the medical inspectors of schools. If it does, I could wish it would be just a little bit more demonstrative in its appreciation, and thus help to extend this sphere of usefulness in the prevention of disease. The Small ,band of workers at present engaged is totally inadequate to cope with the work to be done. It is fetile to say that we cannot . afford more help at I present. If we can afford to build hospitals, we can afford to liberally s assist in this, the most practical means of rendering hospitals unnecessary. It is in our schools rather than in our hospitals that the Minister of Public Health imay find his greater scope for usefulness. One can, I believe, prophesy with certainty that as the scope of this Department increases the necessity, for curative institutions will dimmish. " There are many clirections' regarding the health of the school child that the medical officers could turn their attention were they given more time and opportunity. All infectious fevers have an injurious effect on endocrine efficiency. To-day great care is taken that the child does not return to school until he is safe as regards the other children in the school. This is quite right. But are we sufficiently careful to examine the child himself that he is fit to return to school? or inquire whether 1 there are not other surroundings more suitable for him to regain his normal endocrine activity? EDUCATION AT THE PERIOD OF , i . PUBERTY. "Another question which;merits consideration.is that of education, the right type of education, at the period of puberty—the period of endocrine activity most prone to make or mar the prospects of perfect womanhood. Have you ever considered the profound changes —anatomical, physiological, and psychological—that a young girl goes through at this period? Nature, to fit her for her future mission, institutes a condition of pelvic hyperaemia, and suggests a life of fresh air, freedom, and intellectual thought most suitable for the necessary endocrine development, and also that nerve and mental control, essential for the development of the former. ' A STANDARD OF OUR OWN. "It is the lack of emotional control at this period that, is responsible for so much adult neurosis to-day. Let me again quote a former authority: 'Thus the two newest methods in medicina, psychotherapy and endocrinology, become not opposed, but aspects of the same problem.' A sound education at this period must thus surely include the teachings of the foremost _ psychotherapists in our midst, the minister of religion. It is useless for my critics to majestically waive their arms as if to embrace the whole of New Zealand, and to invite me to look round and inform them where in the world will be found a Inner young womanhood. Like the lowest death rate; the truth of their statement is granted. But the argument, to use the words of a well-known Qhristchurch paper, has been worn threadbare by stick-in-the-mud opponents of reform. Let us be done with foreign standards and institute one of our own. The fact remains that whilst most girls do not suffer from cerebral hyperaemia, a large number do. Although the question is a complex one, we must not allow its difficulties to prevent us from doing our very best in the interests of the Teal makers of out future nation." CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM. , Touching other a&pects of the question, Dr. Herbert said that chronic aleoholiflm was a- jKiUnt «vu«e of endocrine inadequacy, "When one oi bsth

parents are alcoholic during the reproductive period, the offspring must, in the majority of oases, start handicapped' in life, more prone to die disease.and less able to resist its onset. Our present methods of treating chronic alcoholism are a farce and a waste of money. Hospitals are of no use for this class of case. This form of temporary insanity should be treated as others are. Suitable institutions ou farms would give better results. These could be made self-supporting, and, in addition, might supply general hospitals with a number of their necessities." .TREATMENT OF SYPHILIS. Finally he dealt with the "profoundly ( destructive effect on the function of all 1 endocrine glands" by the virus of syphilis. By "it growth, nutrition, mental and physical development were all impaired. No disease, however, presented greater opportunities for successful preventive' measures. The micro-organism that caused it was known, its presence was easily detected in the early stages of the disease, ita mode oi spread was understood, and its treatment in the earlier stages of the disease was i, eminently satisfactory. It would only be prejudice and ignorance on the one hand, and indifference on the other, that would cause us to allow the disease to exert ita painful influence on the health of the people- during another generation. It 3 destructive eSect on the health of the people, even unto the "third and fourth generations" was so freat that no maudlin sentiment nrustj c allowed to stand in the way of propaganda and preventive, measures so immediately capable of good result*.