The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-03-28
HEALTH BULLETIN
S&a& CITY OF ELY ~,
COITER.

are IOuIlQ III the ITedI Lakes htSlOi
of North America, in which region
we reside. Goiter is very common
in Ely and vicinity. A large number
of cases are seen in girls of High
School age. Some cases occur in
young children, some in men and
boys and many in grown women
Probably more cases occur amongst
young girls of the community than
of any other class of individuals. II
is possible that considerable benefit
can be given these cases by treat,
ment, in fact goiter of young people
most readily responds to treatment
and less often has to be operated on
than any goiter occurring in any
class of individuals.
THYROID REQUIREMENTS.
That the thyroid gland is in part
responsible for growth physical and
mental may be taken from the state
ment that a failure of the normal
function of the thyroid results, when
occurring in infancy, in arresting the
longitudinal development and also
the mental development of the child
in adults it frequently shows itself
leading to definite insanity.
The thyroid is known as ductless
gland, and is located in the throat.
Iodine is an important constituent.
insufficient iodine to maintain the
secretion and an abundant reserve,
under certain conditions, causes the
thyroid to enlarge. This swelling or
enlargement so prevalent in this part
of the continent is known as goiter,
and is occupying the attention Of
specialists and dieticians extensively
Lack of iodine, has been demon
strated as the existing cause of a
malady prevalent among new born
animals in the Northwest section of
North America. Investigation was
directed to find the reason for sc
large a number of animals being
born either hairless and dead or dy,
ing a few hours after birth. Feeding
iodine to pregnant animals resulted
in the elimination of the malady in
offspring. The malady was found tt
be due to a lack of thyroid function
in the unborn, but developing animal
The lack of proper thyroid function
in the young animal, in turn, wa:
due to a deficiency of iodine in the
mothers diet. The thyroids in thu
affected animals were ten times ths
normal size, and contained PRACTICAL!
no iodine. The thyroids in the off
springs of those animals which were
fed iodine during pregnancy were al
of normal size, and contained {
large store of iodine.
Goiter is very prevalent among thu
human inhabitants of certain wei
known regions of Europe and Asia
and numerous contentious have beer
brought forward to account for it:
prevalence. Investigators now main
tain that the limiting factor is the
same as found in the thyroid dis
turbance of new born animals: That
goiter is prevalent in those region:
where there is an iodine deficiency
in the vegetation. The general fooc
of the human inhabitant of any sec.
ton of this continent is not restrict
ed to the products of that section a:
is common with domestic animals
and with the humble inhabitants OF
many regions of Europe and Asia
therefore, the inhabitants would moi
be so susceptible to an iodine de,
ficiency in their environment, yet
the alarming prevalence of goitel
on this continent indicates that there
is wide susceptibility to goiter. II
is also common knowledge that the
thyroid is prone to enlarge during
menstruation, during the period Of
Developing from children to adults
i. e., between the ages of IL and II
and during pregnancy, indicating
shoe SAiShS 10 Oh It'll CoSCu IuyIOiu dC
tivity and that there is often not
sufficient iodine in the blood to main
tain the increased secretion.
Examination of large number Of
agricultural products of this con
tinent has shown that iodine is alb
sent in the great majority, and wher
it is present, there is only a trace
This condition justifies the assertion
that during those periods in the life
history of the individual when thu
iodine is needed most, that is during
the growth of the child not yet born
during development into maturity
and in pregnancy, it is advisable tt
supplement the ordinary diet with {
certain amount of iodine.
One grain of potassium iodide OF
1-35th of an ounce of syrup of fer
rous iodide, U. S. P, taken approx
mately daily during pregnancy anc
menstruation and for a period Of
seven days each month from the age.
to IL to II is recommended.
OWEN w. PARKER,
Health Co,op,iSc;ona,