TREATMENT OF ADDISON'S DISEASE WITH THE CORTICAL HORMONE OF THE SUPRARENAL GLAND: SUMMARY OF IMMEDIATE RESULTS IN TWENTY CASES TREATED WITH THE PREPARATION MADE BY SWINGLE AND PFIFFNER

Investigators have attempted for many years to isolate the cortical hormone of the suprarenal gland in such a form that it might be used in the treatment of Addison's disease. The preparation of an extract of the suprarenal cortex that would maintain indefinitely the life of completely suprarenalectomized cats was announced by Swingle and Pfiffner 1 in March, 1930. Their method of extraction 2 was such that they were able not only to obtain an active extract but also to obtain it in such quantity as to permit its use in the treatment of patients with Addison's disease. The Mayo Clinic was permitted to test this product clinically. 3 In January of this year, four of us 4 reported the results obtained in the treatment of seven cases of Addison's disease. The results showed that this extract is strikingly effective in these cases and is life saving in some. We