Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/74

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SEX AND THE LOVE-LIFE

traits. There appear to have been a few exceptions—eunuchs who have risen to positions of importance.

In any event, we know that the sexual hormone determines the shading of the characteristic masculine development or lack of it. If the hormone is deficient in quality or quantity, or is absent, the man tends toward the secondary physical attributes of the woman, with the corresponding psychic disposition. That is, he is inclined to narrow shoulders and broad hips, rounded breasts, lack of beard, layers of fat underneath the skin instead of a more muscular development, a high pitched voice, effeminate features, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies.

The internal secretion (as distinguished from the semen) of the testes is produced in the interstitial glands or tissue, meaning "spaces between." These glands are so closely interwoven with the tissue producing the external secretion (semen), that it is only in later years that they have been differentiated, although the double nature of the testes have been known for a long time—since the early experiments in castrating animals and birds.

The interstitial glands are made up of small islets of large cells held together by connective tissue and are located between the seminal fluid-producing tubes. These cells are known as the cells of Leydig, from their discoverer.

Whereas the spermatic fluid of the seminal glands is carried out of the body by way of the genito-urinary canal, the hormone of the instititial gland is poured directly into the blood.

Chemical Aspects of Sex. Glandular secretions, among other physiological factors, play a paramount rôle in the sexual life of man. It will not be denied that these secretions may be influenced by the mind—as an attitude, or state of mind, always in some degree reflects itself physiologically by