The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-25
SAFE AND SOUND REDUCING Don't Meddle With Thyroid


 Besides hypopituitary obesity, described earlier, and everyday nu- tritional obesity, which is the fa- miliar insidious accumulation Of stacker flesh which so many adults show in the late thirties and early forties when CVD begins, there is a third type of obesity which IS neither due to wrong eating nor amendable to right eating. This IS hypothyroidism.
 The thyroid gland is a ductless gland, supplying an internal secre- ton, endocrine or hormone to the blood but having no ordinary see cretion. The endocrine or hornone it produces and supplies to the blood regulates metabolisn1. Metab- olism is the oxidation process, the combustion of fuel, body tissue or food, to yield the energy or heat constantly required by the involun- tary muscles of the body Gas Of the heart blood vessels, stomach, intes- tine, etc.) to perform the vital func- tions and by the voluntary muscles to do their work. When the thyroid gland fails to supply enough of this internal secretion, the entire vital machinery slows down, metabolism rate is low, and various character istic signs and symptoms develop, which need not concern us here, ex- cept the one we are discussing, obesity.
 Hypothyroid Chypo means under or less than normaO obesity presents peculiar features, such as pads of fat over the collar bones, and the firm, resistant fat pads do not pit on pres sure, dullness of mind and tendency to fall asleep, sensitiveness to cold even when the atmosphere seems comfortable or too warm for others and tendency to wear more clothing than normal persons do in order to keep warm, loss of expression of face, gloomy spirit or temperament, wax like complexion, tendency to become blue or cyanotic on exposure to cold slow pulse, subnormal body temper ature. These are common manifeS- tations of hypothyroidism.
 No amount of dieting alone can bring about reduction of hypothy- roid obesity. The successful treat ment of this condition demands ad- ministratoin of the proper amount of thyroid endocrine, and even if the layman can purchase thyroid extrack without 8 prescription 1t is far too dangerous for an intelligent person to meddle with. Thyroid as a me- dicine may be safely taken only un- der the constant observation and control of the physician. The ef- fleets of a single dose may not be perceived until "A to 48 hours and may last week or ten days. Some authorities even claim effects of a single dose may continue for as long as ten weeks. So it is clear that regulation of the dosage of thyroid in any circumstance is question that demands the expert knowledge and experience of the physician.
 I discuss hypothyroid obesity here for two good reasons. First, be- cause so many sufferers from it are not receiving the treatment they re- lQuAACs OSNOAAOB bCNShoC oO hAdAAJ AtAo- guided persons are unwittingly risk ing health and maybe life itself by meddling with ehVroid extract on their own.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Soda
 Have been told baking soda, used to retain green color when cooking vegetables, destroys vitamins, say in tomatoes.
 (Mrs. E. J0
 It hastens or favors oxidation which is destructive particularly to vitamin c, less so to vitamins A and B complex in tomatoes or green vegetables. It is a sad error to put soda (saleratus, baking soda, so- alum bicarbonate) in tomato juice The acid of tomatoes and fruits t healthful and wholesome for any one and, far from causing "acidity' helps to maintain normal alkalinitS in blood and tissues. This applies especially to lemons, oranges, grape. fruit and their juices.
 Movies
 Would the eyesight of child foui years old be affected by attendance at the movies occasionally?
 (Mrs. J. L. T1 ] Ans"sf-H0' <