PRESENT STATUS OF COMMERCIAL ENDOCRINE PREPARATIONS

INTRODUCTION  In the past few years physicians have had clinical experience with numerous potent endocrine preparations, many of which are pure chemical compounds. The chemical structure of most of these compounds has been identified and their physiologic activities thoroughly studied in the laboratory. With the advent of these, physicians have become well aware that preparations of desiccated ovary, testicle, thymus, pineal gland, prostate, mammary gland and other organs or simple extracts of these tissues, which have been on the market many decades are unscientific and that their physiologic activities are insignificant. Evidence supporting claims of therapeutic value for such products is either completely lacking or based on fragmentary reports or testimonials. In view of the fact that there are at present on the market pure potent endocrine principles whose effects are well known and whose properties have been investigated scientifically, there is no justification for the use of preparations whoseactivity