The term of acceptance for the preparations of pineal gland, red bone-marrow and thymus gland having expired, the referee in charge of animal organ preparations recommended in his report for the annual revision of N. N. R. that these products and the general articles describing them be omitted from New and Nonofficial Remedies. He held that the experimental and clinical experience with them leads to the conclusion that they are without value.
In accordance with the recommendation of the referee, the Council voted that the following preparations be omitted from New and Nonofficial Remedies: Desiccated Pineal Gland-Armour; Pineal Gland Tablets-Armour; Extract of Red Bone-Marrow-Armour; Desiccated Thymus-Armour; Thymus Tablets-Armour.
As a matter of record, the descriptive articles for pineal gland, red bone-marrow and thymus gland, which appeared in New and Nonofficial Remedies, 1918, are given below.
Pineal Gland
The functions of this gland have not yet been established but there is some pathological and some experimental evidence that there is a relation between the gland and some processes of development and growth; the nature of this relation is unknown. Adiposis is a frequent sign of disturbed pineal function, but observers are not agreed whether to interpret this as indicating hypofunction or hyperfunction, or possibly a concurrent disturbance of the pituitary. In some instances intravenous injections of pineal extract have seemed to cause a distinct fall in blood pressure. It has been inferred from observations in cases of pineal tumors in the young that the gland in young individuals furnishes a secretion which inhibits growth, particularly the development of the reproductive glands, but the results of experimental administration of pineal substance orally have led other observers to infer that the pineal secretion favors physical and possibly mental and sexual development. It has been suggested that, as all evidence points to the fact that the function of the pineal gland is one of early life, extract of adult pineal glands might be expected to be inert. Experiment has also indicated greater activity in glands obtained from young animals than in those obtained from older ones. The Council has decided to admit preparations of pineal gland to New and Nonofficial Remedies simply for experimental purposes.
Red Bone-Marrow
Red bone-marrow consists largely (more than 90 per cent.) of fat. In new-born animals a third or more of this fat consists of lecithin. The marrow of the bones of new-born animals contains iron (up to 1 per cent. or more) in various forms of organic combination. Both lecithin and iron decrease rapidly in the first weeks after birth. The commercial preparations contain very variable amounts of these constituents.
Actions and Uses.—Red bone-marrow is supposed to stimulate the formation of red blood corpuscles; whatever action it may have in this direction is probably due largely to the iron and lecithin which it contains.
It is said to be useful in simple and pernicious anemias.