Distribtifion of Iodine. 287 



ducts, and the complete absence of the goitre, and of cre- 

 tinism, — between its progressive diminution and the cor- 

 responding development of these maladies. This coincidence 

 results, not only from all the facts we have observed in the 

 Alps, but also by separate observations made in the Pyrenees, 

 the Soissonnais, the Brie, the Nievre, the Meurthe, the Jura, 

 the Vosges, upon the banks of the Rhine, and in Switzerland ; 

 it is confirmed by specific facta, especially by those which M. 

 Boussingault has collected in the Cordilieres of New Gra- 

 nada.* 



The causes of goitre and of cretinism, are of two kinds : — 

 1^^, A special cause^ which is the insufficiency of the quantity 

 of iodine introduced into the animal economy ; 2d, The general^ 

 or accessory causes, amongst which may be reckoned, damp 

 and confined air, low, close, confined, and badly -situated dwell- 

 ings, the want of light, the winds, in as much as they are damp, 

 and do not contain iodine, the steepness of the mountains, as- 

 sociated with the preceding circumstances, as nourishment 

 deficient in reparatory principles, filthy clothing, interfering 

 with the functions of the skin, water deprived of oxygen, but 

 only as altered in its tonic qualities. I admit also the influ- 

 ence of age, that of the sexes, and of the temperament, proved 

 by the relative frequency in the occurrence of goitre amongst 

 fair women, that of its being hereditary, that of occupations 

 and habits, which appears to result especially from the liabi- 

 lity of persons who carry burdens on their head, to contract 

 goitre. 



In general, certain mechanical influences, and especially all 

 debilitating causes, dispose to the formation of goitre, to 

 which tonic agents, such as dry air, wine, iron, &c., give on 

 the contrary the power of resistance to a certain extent ; 

 hence we are led to define goitre, — A specific form of lymph- 

 atic disorder, determined by a special cause, the want of 

 iodine. 



* Professor Cantu, who is the first who has devoted himself to the general 

 research regarding iodine, has correct ideas of the influence which this sub- 

 stance produces in tRe maintenance of health. 



