Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1915-03-03
copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
THE PARATHYROID GLAND.

We are compelled to use animals
such as the dog, the cat, the monkey
and the like for the purpose of secur
ing experimental confederation oil
many theories because physiological
chemistry experiments along such
lines generally necessitate extensive
and dangerous surgical procedures
And although an abundance of expert.
mental material is readily obtainable
the demonstrations of theories enorm'
ously important to man are necessar-
lily slow, largely because of wide
spread prejudice against considering
conditions in the lower animals an
alogous to those found in the human.
Schiff noted fatal results to dogs
following removal of the thyroid in
1856 and wrote about 1t in 1859, but
no notice was taken of his work by
the surgical profession. Again in 1884,
following reports of the removal of
human thyroids by Raverdin in 1882
and Kocher in 1883. Schiff wrote show
Ing that after complete extirpation
OF the thyroid all the animals died in
four to twenty-seven days. These ex-
periments were confirmed by various
observers, but in many instances the
symptoms shown by the animals sub
sequent to the operation proved to be
OF most variable character, not only
In different species, but also in diff
ferent individuals of the same species.
few of the animals succumbed in a
few days. frequently with the accom-
paniment of commissions; others lived
for some months or even longer and
sank gradually from general lack of
nutrition, but occasionally dog would
survive the operation.
In the case of the human being
complete removal induced a like var
fety OF symptoms, state resembling
myxedema and cretinism "a condition
OF deficient development and idiosasalssii
besides anemia, readiness to fatigue.
sensation of cold and occasionally
tetany (convulsions)
The four insignificant pealike par
athyroid (near-thyroid) glands tucked
away behind the more prominent
thyroid gland for long time escaped
the eye of the anatomist, and for a
long time after they were discovered
they were given no particular consid-
Grafton. But careful investigation of
these baby glands by anatomist, his
tologist and embryologist proved them
to be Independent organs structurally
and functionally distinct from any
other tissues, and of vast Importance
in the economy.
Experimental Investigations demon
strated the parathyroids to be vital
organs of remarkable physiological
activity in a wide range of animal
1t was demonstrated that
rabbits deprived of these tiny bodies
died in commissions. Gradually the
significance of this observation dawned
upon surgeons and Psychologists.
When the parathyroids alone are re-
moved the animal dies quickly with !
acute symptoms. including convul-
;ions; but when the thyroids alone |
ire removed the animal may survive |
or a long period, but will develop a
condition Of chronic malnutrition sim
lar to the disease known IS myxe-
ema in man.
The experimental evidence in the
,ase of the parathyroids tends to sup
10 vfouy fhof fhnir
lists of in some way neutralzing toxic
INSTANCES formed elsewhere in the
'ody; they are poison destroying or
ans. whose principal function most
is to neutralize the metabol-
C poisons particularly detrimental to
he nervous system. Therefore, after
emoval of these glands, death occurs
rom the accumulation of the so-called
netabolic tetany poisons formed in
he blood and tissues, attacking the
erves in the absence of the normal
arathyroid secretions.
The tetany (convulsion) Of pregnan-
y and lactation, epilepsy, exophthalm-
, goiter. paralysis agitans (shaking
alsy) and other conditions associated
18th muscular tremor is closely identi.
ed with parathyroid insufficiency.
nd SO, too, is osteomalacia (morbid
oftening Of bone), decaying teeth and
ckets. 1t is known that lack of lime
,alcium) in the organism leads to
,tany, hence calcium metaB0lism is
Influenced by the parathy-
lid glands and the parathyroids in
I'm are, Of course. gravely infu-
iced by lack of calcium. This is a
ct of vast importance, as later in
will prove. 4
Many observers have reported that I