ught, no learning, no
education, no habit-formation, no responsive energy for situations,
as well as no physical unfolding of faculty and function, and no
reproduction of kind, with no sign of adolescence at the expected age,
and no exhibition of sex tendencies thereafter.

EFFECTS OF FEEDING THYROID

How subtly the internal secretion affects every phase and aspect of
child as well as adult, by doing something to the speed of activities
in their cells, is told straightway by the effects of it when eaten
or introduced into the skin or blood of various people. A cretin,
idiotic, dwarfish, deformed, hopeless, an incessantly prodding burden
of sorrow to the mother, who looks upon the masterpiece she had
labored to bring forth, and beholds a terrible gargoyle, becomes
transformed when fed thyroid.

In a few days the cretin will get warmer, and require much less
wrapping and bed-clothing. With the improvement in circulation, the
color becomes better and the extremities lose their coldness. In a
week or so, irritability and resentment at disturbance appear. He will
begin to recognize and know his parents, smile and play. There is
a gradual return to the normal of the facial appearance, and a
resumption of growth. All kinds of marvelous growth effects occur.
Twenty teeth may be cut in six months. Coarse, rough dry, shaggy hair
becomes fine, silken, long and curly. The skin becomes soft, moist and
roseate. Inches in height may be added every month. Bright, active,
even talkative, are the descriptive terms an observer would apply
after a few months. A complete remaking of body and soul is apparently
affected.

Yet, should the administration of the thyroid cease, an almost
immediate reversion to the original vegetative condition is
inevitable. After a few days, reactiveness slows down, the child will
speak only when spoken to, will sit quietly in a chair all day and
act semi-anesthetized. Gradually hair and skin return to the previous
cold-blooded animal state, and the whole picture of the cretin is in
full bloom. Supplying the internal secretion of the gland promptly
repeats the transformation.

One wonders what is to be the ultimate fate of these reformed cretins.
Since the tale of the opening of life to them, once considered
hopeless idiots, is scarce a generation old, we have no data, as
yet, as to the character of their children or grandchildren, their
adventures and vicissitudes, in short, their life history. Those of