THE ADRENAL CORTEX

Note. —This article and the articles in the previous issues of The Journal are part of a series published under the auspices of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry. Other articles zvill appear in succeeding issues. When completed, the series will be published in book form.—Ed.

It has been known for many years that destruction of the adrenal glands in the human being, or complete ablation of these structures in most animal species, results in death. Following the isolation and synthesis of epinephrine, it was shown that this secretion of the adrenal medulla would not maintain life. In human beings suffering from severe Addison's disease, as well as in totally adrenalectomized animals, this hormone, regardless of the dose or means of administration, proved to have little if any therapeutic effect. In experimental animals, extirpation of one adrenal and destruction of the medulla in the other led