A NEW (ORBITAL) METHOD FOR EXTIRPATION OF THE HYPOPHYSIS IN THE PIGEON

Pituitary gland extirpation has been performed by many investigators (Biedl, Aschner). In the course of an investigation on the effect of the pituitary gland upon body temperature in the pigeon we were often compelled to ablate the gland. The cranial method (dishing, Kreidl) was first tried in vain, then the palatine method (Caselli, Gaglio) proved also fruitless. We were thus driven to devise a new method by which the operation was carried out through the orbital cavity. The eye-ball on one side was enucleated and the intervening bone removed to give access to the mid-brain cavity to permit extirpation of the hypophysis. A skin incision was made about 2 cm. in length along the frontal line just over one eye, and the bone bordering the orbital cavity was exposed. The soft tissues surrounding the eye-ball were first cut away and the latter itself taken out after necessary ligatures.