THE OCCURRENCE OF BENIGN GLYCOSURIA IN DIABETIC FAMILIES

In later years investigations into heredity have steadily assumed a greater importance in medical research. The application of the results obtained by experimental work to the study of human disease entails, however, considerable difficulty. Agreement has not yet been reached regarding the question of heredity in diabetes mellitus. One view, held by Meulengracht¹ for one, is that the disease is dependent on a single dominant factor. Against this, Hansen² has asserted that it must be assumed that the disease is caused by several factors with a similar effect. He says, "The normal development of the pancreas is determined by several factors acting in a similar way. The severe cases of diabetes occur when many factors are lacking, the mild cases, when a few are lacking." Hansen³ also expresses himself in favor of the view that there is a relation between diabetes mellitus and at least some of the mild glycosurias