The Washington times., 1917-01-23
POPULAR MEDICINE
BYDR. HIRSHBERG
intelligent Observation of Rules
of Hygiene Will De-
y crease illness.
BY m. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.

BY Dr. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.
There is an unpleasant physical
condition, which is the reverse of
goitre or an over-productive thyroid
gland. 1t is called myxoedema or
cretinism, in contra-distinction TO
hyper-thyroidism OF many goitres.
Myxoedema is an affection with a
group of symptoms due to the loss
OF help from the thyroid gland. There
is more or less lack of mental alert
ness, together with a soggy, thick,
dull appearance of the skin.
Nearly sixty years ago It was noted
that the removal of the thyroid gland
from dogs, rats, and other animals
induced loss of attention, affection,
and memory in those animals. It is
strange, now that we know how lit
tie the brain has to do with the mind,
that more notice has not been given
to the fact.
When surgeons first began to re-
move the thyroid gland itself, back
in 1888, they failed to realize that
some OF 1t must be left. All of It
was removed with a train of conse.
quences, which for the first time gave
medical men q clew as to the cause
of cretinism or myxoedema. Import
ant researches thus begun led to the
successful treatment OF these back
ward mental states by, administra-
tion of powders and tablets made
from fresh thyroid glands of sheep
and calves.
The Common symptoms.
In children called "cretins the thy
roid gland is absent or wasted by
fevers. Goitres may at times be pres
ent, because the tumor has displaced
the real thyroid tissue.
Children born as cretins may 20
unnoticed until they are nearly a
year old. Then it is observed that
they are less attentive and intelligent
than other children. The skin is dry,
the hair thin, the face bloated, the
nose fiat, depressed and thick, and the
appearance of the teeth may be great
ly delayed.
Anyone Of these symptoms alone is
not enough to make you suspect The
trouble. These infants also snow
signs OF loss of vivacity.
Myxoedema is the grown-up form of
cretinism. 1t occurs six times oftener
in women than in men, and seems to
be almost a sexIimited character,
transmitted through the mother to
the children of some families. Occa-
sionally it is associated with goitres.
The bulk of the body is Increased IN
size, the skin grows dull, tough, thick,
dry and rough. The wrinkles, lines
and marks of expression in the face
are obliterated, the hair becomes thin
and falls out and the feature coarsen.
The nostrils flare and broaden, and
the mouth grows wider.
The Newest Treatment.
The whole physiognomy strikes you
as dull and bloated. Slow speech,
hating movements and lack of
thought are conspicuous. The mem
DRY grows poor, and occasionally
there are signs of meIancholic de-
mentia
Usually, except in a few instances
where a goitre is also to be noted, the |
thyroid gland is artophied, wasted and |
in size. Prof. Horseley, |
the English psychologist, was one of |
the first to prove that complete re-
moval Of the thyroid gland in mon
keys was followed by these same |
symptoms.
The appearance OF mental back
wardness, lack OF pep and ginger
in mind and muscles. abundance OF !
fat, a heavy, slow gait and a dull, list |
less attitude toward many things, all |
indicate that a course of careful treat
ments with thyroid extract, superIn-
tended by your doctor, should be ge-
gun.
II the patient suffers with cold. as
is sometimes apparent, a warmer
cline in the winter IL often beneficial.
Massage and warm baths are help
full.
Women and children formerly DOOM
ed to remain victims Of a blighted
who were burdens to their
families and to the state, are now
adAys restored TO health and useful
ness. thanks to the discovery by two
brilliant English physicians. Prof. Vic
tor Horseley. and one OF his students,
DIR. Murray. They, together with a
Danish physician, Prof. HOwitz, Of
introduced the practical
method Of feeding cretins and victims
OF myNoedema solutions, extracts and
other combinations of the thyroid
glands of sheep.
The dried gland and a glycerIne
should be taken daily,
one grain at a time. and, later, under
the Doctors watchful eye, the dose
can be increased a few grains and
taken three times q day. 1t may be
to keep up its use indefi-
nitely, because a relapse may occur u
treatment is stopped too soons
CcorvriEht. 1sh. N-wsparer Festure serviee)