WHAT MAKES US GROW.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1917, Page 3

WHAT MAKES US GROW.

Doctors’ Reported Discovery. San Francisco, Jan 11 It ia announced that scientists at the University of California have discovered the substance that produces growth in tha human body. Tethtlin is what they oill it. It is located in the pituitary body at tin base of the brain, and by retarding op accelerating its functions it may be possible, they say, to control the stature of human being?. The discovery was made known by Dr T. E. Robertson, Protestor of Biochemistry, who said that he had succeeded in isolating tethei id, aud that fce believed it was the first time in the history of biologic.il so.enca that it had been done. The pituitary body of unknown function is a small structure about the s zi of a pea attached to the base of the brain. Disease affecting it

has always seemed to bn associated with the general disease known as acromegaly, which ia characterised by increased massiveness of tbs bones, especially of the jaws hands and feetSometimes the condition is associated wi h disorders of the thyroid gland in front of the neck, The thyroid is also said to bs connected with functions or growth. “It has been known for a long time,” said a physician “ that the pituitary gland had some relation to growth of the humau body. For instance. giants have diseased pitnitary glands; that is what makes them tall. Of coarse, if it i 3 true that a definite substance controlling a‘ature has been isolated from thß gland, then that is louething new aud interesting.”