“The absence of the thyroid gland, in depriving the body of this guardian of the activity of the conjunctive tissue, allows the latter to develop in an excessive degree. The cells divide and multiply with extraordinary activity, atrophying and suffocating the nobler elements among which they find themselves, taking their place, and, in the course of a few months, accomplishing the evil work which as a rule it takes them years to complete. The thyroid gland pours no elixir of youth into our veins, but it does fight against the encroachment of the robust, primitive, non-specialized cell, and prevents it from taking the place of those trained to play a special part in our body, for it is this encroachment which destroys the harmony of the organism, troubles and weakens its functioning, brings on old age and hastens death.”