man covenants, vary with the different
reactions of the parties to the contract. And so a great deal depends
upon whether they work harmoniously or discordantly, and upon which
does the most work and which the least.

Undersecretion and Oversecretion

It is when a gland, either in the course of development, or because of
the influence of starvation, shock, injury, poisoning or infection,
begins to undersecrete or oversecrete that its effects upon growth and
nutrition become grossly manifest. A veritable transfiguration of the
individual may occur, the black magic of which may perplex him for
a lifetime. A man, made eunuchoid by an accident or by mumps, will
observe in himself astonishing changes in his constitutional make-up,
mentality and sexuality. He would be more astounded to learn that
beneath the appearances, the changes, so alarming him, there are
profound alterations in the rate at which he is taking in oxygen,
burning up sugar, accumulating carbon dioxide and excreting waste
byproducts through the kidneys, which are responsible for them.

The differences between the normal and abnormal are only a matter of
degree. And so, to be sure, are differences between types. But it is
hard to realize that the striking distinctions between the thyroid
type and the pituitary, comparable, as said, to the differences
between a greyhound and a bull-dog, are dependent solely upon
quantitative variations in the general and local speeds of metabolism,
among the cells.

DIVISION OF LABOR

Besides the antagonisms and co-operations between them, there are
certain lines along which the glands, in their effects, specialize.
The thyroid, for instance, is concerned specially with the regulation
of the shape, form and finish of an organ. The pituitary shines at the
periods of developmental crises, determining them and modifying them.
It exerts the greatest influence upon the time of eruption of the
teeth, both the temporary and the permanent, the onset of puberty, the
recurrence of menstruation in women, and the time of occurrence of
labor. The interstitial glands distribute the basis of the powers and
limitations of masculinity and femininity. Abnormalities of these
glands also affect the individual all along the line, in all of his
aspects. So affected he may apparently change into a wholly different
being. He may change in size, in the shape of his head, feet and
hands, as well as in his habits, aptitudes and dispositions. So he