The Glands Regulating Personality: A Study of the Glands of Internal Secretion in Relation to the Types of Human NatureBerman, Louis
History
The Glands Regulating Personality: A Study of the Glands of Internal Secretion in Relation to the Types of Human Nature
Berman, Louis
Endocrinology; Personality
The skin is one of the chief clues to the adrenal personality. The
relation between the adrenal and the skin dates way back in the
evolutionary scale, for adrenalin has been isolated directly from
pigment deposits in the epidermis of frogs. Skin pigment bears a
direct relation to the reaction of the organism to light, especially
the ultraviolet rays, to the radiation of heat, and hence to the
fundamental productions and consumptions of energy by the cells. So
the gland of energy for emergencies writes its signature always all
over the skin.
In an adrenal personality, the epidermis is always slightly, somewhat,
or deeply pigmented. The pigmentation is due to a dark brown deposit
lightly or thickly scattered over the skin. With the general diffuse
pigmentation or darkening there are often the black spots, the
pigmented birth marks, or the lighter ones of freckles. The latter
signify some permanent or transitory adrenal inadequacy in the past,
ante-natal or post-natal, of the individual, and presage the same in
his future. These spots have been frequently observed to appear
after an attack of diphtheria or influenza. There seems to be more
tuberculosis among those who have them than those who do not. We
therefore say that diphtheria, influenza and tuberculosis stand out
as adrenal-attacking diseases, which have a greater power to kill,
cripple or hurt those with defective adrenal constitutions than
others.
The hair of the adrenal type is characteristic: ubiquitous, thick,
coarse and dry. It is prominent over the chest, abdomen and back,
and has a tendency to kink. Often its color is not the expected: an
Italian's will be yellow, a Norwegian's jet black. It has been stated
that most red-haired persons are adrenal types. Such persons also have
well-marked canine teeth which is another adrenal trait. They also
have a low hair line.
When the adrenal type has a properly co-operating pituitary and
thyroid, he possesses a striking vigor, energy and persistence. With a
fortunate combination, he develops into a progressive winning fighter,
arriving at the top in the long run every time.
Brain work is pretty well lubricated in the well-compensated adrenal
type. Brain fag is closely associated with, if not dependent upon,
adrenal fag, particularly of the cortex. Brain tissue and adrenal
cortex tissue are near relatives, and a normal human brain never
develops without a normal adrenal cortex. The adrenal type with an
hypertrophied adrenal cortex is always efficient.
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