Harvey Cushing in 1932 first described the syndrome of obesity, hypertension, weakness, and depression of sexual function which has since become classically designated by his name. The condition was attributed by him to overproduction of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone in association with the presence of a basophil adenoma. Although he postulated that the consequent stimulation of the adrenal cortex resulted in endogenous overproduction of the adrenocortical steroids, it has since been shown, largely as a result of the work of Albright, Parson, and Bloomberg (1941), that the presence of such an adenoma is not essential for the development of the syndrome. Primary disease of the adrenal cortex itself, either simple hyperplasia or benign or malignant neoplasia, is the more common cause, without stimulus from the pituitary. The hormones responsible for the skeletal changes in this condition are cortisone and hydrocortisone. During the last decade, these substances and similar steroids have been made a...