The Application of the Principles of Statistical Analysis to the Biological Assay of Hormones11

THE APPLICATION of statistical analysis to the development of methods of assay for the hormones has not been very extensive, especially in the field of anterior pituitary hormones. Most workers have appeared satisfied with a characteristic response or reaction in an animal and the expression of activity in an animal unit, with little regard to the design, dosage-response relationships, or the precision of the method. In this connection, Burn (1930) states “that the field of tame laboratory animals has been nearly exhausted and it remains now for the bolder spirits to discover methods in which a lion or elephant unit may be described." To some workers the application of statistics to biological assays appears a formidable and even terrifying adventure because they consider the mathematics so involved.