In spite of the exhaustive study of the pancreas and its hormones during recent years, data on the interrelationship of this organ with other endocrines are discouragingly conflicting. This is especially true with regard to the part played by the islands of Langerhans in the growth and development of the individual.
Bramwell1 in 1904 and Moorhead2 in 1920 described infantilism due to pancreatic insufficiency. It is highly probable, however, that their cases were due to general malnutrition and were not directly the result of malfunction of the pancreas.
Chabanier, Lebert and Lumière3 conclude that insulin specifically stimulates growth processes and that accelerated development following its use is not dependent on improved general health. Lereboullet and Nobecourt3 do not share this view, however. Homans4 found that pancreatic pathologic changes in diabetes are limited to the beta cells of the islands and thought the alpha cells must