The broad ax., 1921-12-17
SOME. INTERESTING FACTS CON-
CERNING GOTTER THAT THE PUB
Lie SHOULD KNOW.
By DIR. ULYSSES GRANT DALEY,
Chicago, Illinois

cepting the temporary fullness at the
neck which occurs periodically in some
females, and during pregnancy. Broad
~ used, it includes also the rather rare
cancerous tunors OF this gland; but
this usage is incorrect.
The thyroid gland is a heshy s.ru--
ture which lies saddle-like across the
windp;pe, and consists of two parts or
lobes. connected by middle portion
or isthmus. The weight OF the whole
organ normally is about one and one
half ounces.
Briefly. here is what we know about
the functions OF the thyroid. 1t is es-
sential to life. More blood goes to IT
than 10 any other gland in the body.
Complete removal in animals is fol-
lowed by slow death. If, however.
one sixth of it (estimated) is left. its
function will be maintained. If trans
planted to another part of the body,
or If throid substance is fed, the re-
suits of removal will be more or less
obviated. Human beings born with
out a thyroid, or with too small
thyroid, become dwarfed idiots who
seldom live to maturity; they are
known as cretins, and one or more Of
them are to be found in most state
asylums. They exemplify the conse-
quences of deficiency of thyroid sub
stance in the immature individual.
Remarkable benefits follow feeding
them with thyroid glands Thyroid
deficiency in adults causes the peculiar
disease known as myxedema. Evil
IDENTIFY the gland has a profound in
huence over mental and physical de-
velopment. 1t is estimated that the
child needs one-third of the total
thyroid found in normal persons,
while adults may keep perfect health
with one-sixth (Mayo). When the
gland is overactive. symptoms OF
poisoning ensue. The individual has
periods of nervousness and trembling,
loss of weight, bullying of the eyes.
and rapid heart beat This group of
symptoms may be of slight or severe
degree. In its normal capacity, IT
seems to be the pep" station Of the
system, to use the phraseology
of one of the popular medical
writers. 1t appears to have certain
regulatory functions in connection
with other glands which have
other purposes. but which act in
a similar manner: namely, the pitui-
tary gland in the head, the suprarenal.
near the kidneys, the thymus. in the
chest, the sex glands, etc. This group
including the thyroid and certain
others, is known as the Endocrines
They perform their very vital duties
silently and mysteriously, and IT must
be confessed that medical science has
much yet to learn about them.
Now as to goiter itself The OBJ
servant layman has doubtless noted
that this abnormality may affect men,
women and children. but that women
in the active period of life are the
most frequent subjects. There are
many varieties, but it is convenient to
consider them all under two forms.
which we speak of as (a) toxic and
(b) nontoxic-or in plain English. |
(a) the poisonous and (b) those that
are not poisonous. This distinction in |
no way depends upon the size. Thus
a very large growth may be perfectly
simple as far as constitutional effects |
are concerned, whereas an insignif-
cant enlargement may be accompanied
by very serious symptoms Of thyroid
We call the nonpoisonous
type the simple goiter. A fair pro-
portion of these simple golfers be-
come toxic later in life. This point
will be REQUIRED to further on. A
rather serious form is toxic from the
beginning. Often the manifestations
Of poisoning occur before the thyroid
itself is conspicuous.
causing confusion on the part Of the
patient. and sometimes even of the
ioctor. as to the nature of the trouble.
Many a person has been treated for I
leart disease when the real condition
vas goiter. f.
What is the cause of this maladvs
l direct answer to the query cannot
e given There are. however. many
interesting facts which bear upon the
question. the more important of which
re herewith related:
A few eminent physicians are Of the
el'ef that some unknown germ is re-
Donsible for the trouble. but this
heory has not met with general &C q.
entance Certain localities seem to
avor the occurrence of disease. In
arts of the Swiss Aios. nearly every !
ne has a goiter. The trouble is re-
FREQUENT IN the North Pa
ihc states and in the Great Lakes re-
ion of this country. I have lust
xamined table prepared bv the draft
fieials in the late war. OF the first
100000 recruits. over Is of every j
900 from the state of WASHINGTON
resented some form of goiter Idaho
anne next then Oreoon Monta,, o