The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-02-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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/ Fundamental |
Principles Of |
t Health@@@ |
; By ALBERT S. GRAY, M. D. t;
copyright, 1914, by A. S. Cray
THE PARATHYROiD GLAND.
By ALBERT S. GRAY, M. D.

We are compelled to use animals
such as the dog, the cat, the MONKEY
and the like for the purpose OF secur'
ing experimental corroboratlon Oh
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 Wlde'
spread prejudice against considering
conditions in the lower animals an
alogous to those found in the human.
Schff noted fatal results to dogs
following removal of the thyroid IN
1856 and wrote about it in 1853, 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 1872
and Kocher in 1888, Schiff wrote show
ing that after complete eXtirpatlon
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.
A few of the animals succumbed in
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 like var.
iety of symptoms, state resembling
myXedema and cretinism IA condition
of deficient development and idiocy),
| besides anemia, a readiness to fatigue,
a sensation of cold and occasionally
tetany (convulsions).
The four insignificant pealike par
athyroid (near-thyroidD glands tucked
away behind the more prominent
| thyroid gland for a long time 9sscapoa
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
organisms. 1t was demonstrated that
rabbits deprived Of these tiny bodies
died in commissions. Gradually the
significance of this observation dawnet
upon surgeons and psychologists.
When the parathyroids alone are re
moved the animal dies quickly will
acute symptoms, including convul
sions; but when the thyroids alone
are removed the animal may survive
for a long period, but will develop ;
condition of chronic malnutrition sim
liar to the disease known Is myxe
dema in man.
The experimental evidence in tn
case of the parathyroids tends to sup
port the view that their function con
sists of In some way neutralizing toxi
substances formed elsewhere in tn
body; they are poison destroying OF
CANS. whose principal function mos
probably is to neutralize the metabo
ic poisons particularly detrimental t
the nervous system. Therefore, afte
removal Of these glands, death occur
from the accumulation Of the so-calle
metabolic tetany poisons formed l
t the blood and tissues, attacking tn
: nerves in the absence Of the norma
parathyroid secretions.
The tetany (convulsion) Of pregnal
t cy and lactation, epilepsy, exophthaln
5 ic goiter, paralysis agitans (shakin
palsy and other conditions associate
1 with muscular tremor Is closely ident
3 fed with parathyroid insufficienc,
: And so, too, Is osteomalacia (morbl
a softening of bone), decaying teeth an
Q ricketts,. 1t is known that lack Of lin
t lcalcium) in the organism leads I
tetany, hence calcium metabolism
doubtless influenced by the parath
roid glands and the parathyroids
4 turn are, of course, gravely inf
enced by lack of calcium. This is
r fact Of vast importance, as later /
vestigations will prove.
9 Many observers have reported tn
injections of parathyroid gland e
: tracts cause the tetany to disappe,
O without, however, protecting the al
q. NAL from fatal outcome. But in 49,
, Macallum and Voegtlin reported tn
:. injection or ingestion of calcium sal
\ completely and instantly checks d
symptoms of tetany arising from Il
removal of the parathyroids and !
stores the animal to an apparent
"A normal condition. Similar results ha
~ been obtained upon human beings s,