No two persons are alike, either in body or in mind. We all differ in the size of our bones, in the texture of our skin, in the quantity of hair on our head, in the warm clothing of fat which covers our body, in our moods and our feelings and the strength we have to endure hardship. We are all cast in different moulds, and it is only quite recently that a group of brilliant scientists have been able to offer an explanation, in part at least, of why this is so.
Situated in widely separated parts of our body are little groups of cells to which we have given the name glands. These groups have for their special work the making of chemical substances called hormones, which are poured directly into the blood as it passes round the body in its life-bringing task. Hormones are chemical messengers, which go to all parts of the body, having a very important effect upon the cells which they encounter on their journey.
One of the best known of these glands is situated in the neck, and is called the thyroid. It is busy continually preparing a chemical messenger which is rich in the deep violet substance which we know as iodine, and it plays an important part in controlling the way in which children grow up. If the thyroid cannot prepare enough of its messenger, as sometimes occurs, the child will never properly grow up. He will be small, and will have very little hair on his head and his skin will be thick and coarse. Above all, his brain will never be able properly to take control; he will be dull and will always think like a young child.
Now, it is possible for such a child to be made to grow up. Doctors can perform, in many cases, what is almost a miracle and reminds us of fairy-tales where dwarfs are changed into giants. The chemical messenger which is missing can be obtained from certain animals such as the sheep, and given to the child to carry its message of growth to the sluggish cells. Very remarkable results indeed have been obtained by this treatment, for the stunted body develops quickly and the tired and lazy brain becomes rapidly bright and alert.
One of the smallest of these wonderful glands which prepare the messengers is placed at the base of the brain. It is called the pituitary gland, and though in size it is only as big as a pea, it has an amazing effect upon the whole growth of our body. Actually, it makes two different kinds of chemical messenger, and if it does not do its work properly when we are young, and makes too much of one kind, then we grow up to an enormous size — we become giants, in fact. Such giants have been known as tall as eleven feet or more! If, later in life, damage is done to the gland which is working properly, and it begins to produce too much of the same messenger, then the whole skeleton increases in size, to huge proportions. The hands and feet get very big and it is often the need for larger gloves and shoes which first draws attention to the disorder.
On the other hand, if the gland does not produce enough of the same chemical messenger when we are young, our growth remains stunted, as can be seen with some of the queer tiny dwarfs which are found in the circuses which travel about the country and attract crowds by their odd appearance.
We all dread. growing old and strive to preserve our youth for as long a period as possible.
For many centuries scientists have been trying to discover how to prolong human life beyond the natural span and have made many experiments, without much success. They have hoped to find the “Elixir of Life” — a substance which would give perpetual youth. Well, it is too much to say that to-day we have discovered this secret, but we do know that a certain gland makes chemical messengers which keep us young, and that old age results from the gradual failure of this gland to keep up its proper supply.
|
|
Within the last few years experiments have been carried out by a surgeon in France, Serge Voronoff, who has transplanted the special gland from a healthy young animal to a very old man and astonished the world with his new ideas. In many cases he achieved very wonderful results, the signs of old age disappearing and youthfulness beginning to appear again. This rejuvenation, as it is called, does not yet last very long, but it seems that in the near future it will not be impossible by improved methods to add quite a number of years to the accepted span of life. Clearly, these chemical messengers which travel the high road of our blood circulation have an amazing effect upon the destinies of our lives.