SummaryAuthor has studied biological changes induced by anesthesia of the glomus carotidus in polyarthritic patients. These changes are similar to those produced by Cortisone or A. C. T. H. and therefore he feels that anesthesia of glomus carotidus results in increased activity of the adrenal cortex with 17-11 oxysteroids hypersecretion.He has also examined the biological changes observed in rheumatoid patients and he gives as hypothesis that the adrenal cortex of these patients is hyperactive, but that equilibrium between salt regulating steroids and 11 oxysteroids is disrupted.