COMPENSATING FOR THYROID DEFICIENCY^ 



Thyroid deficiency sometimes retards a child's development, both mentally and physi- 

 cally. A "mongoloid" cretin treated with thyroxin showed steady improvement. Many 

 such cases are being restored to normal life 



raised on the soil — lacks iodine, the thyroid cannot develop adequately, and 

 human beings and other mammals suffer accordingly. In this country sev- 

 eral regions are lacking in iodine sufficiently to bring about a condition 

 known as simple goiter in a large proportion of young people, especially 

 girls (see map, p. 101). This is a slight sw^elling of the thyroid, which has 

 been cured. It ordinarily disappears, however, in a few years. At present, 

 however, this type of goiter is being completely prevented in entire popula- 

 tions by adding small quantities of iodine to the common table salt. 



Hormones and the Rate of Metabolism" In addition to influencing de- 

 velopment during early stages, thyroxin influences the rate of metabolism at 

 all stages. An excess of thyroxin leads to an overdriving of all the body's ac- 

 tivities. This means increased oxidation ; and if food is not supplied in suitable 

 proportion, the organism oxidizes its reserves and loses weight. The speeding 

 up of metabolism results also in higher body temperature and in general nerv- 

 ous excitement. There may be drying of the hair and excessive perspiration. 

 Sometimes the eyeballs protrude while the lids are held wide open. Such 

 cases are frequently helped by the removal of a portion of the thyroid. 



Since excessive thyroid activity increases the oxidation of fats and carbo- 

 hydrates in the body, some people have used thyroid extract for reducing 

 body weight. But this is a dangerous practice and should in no case be 

 followed except under the direction of a physician. 



^From Lectures on Endocrinology, by Walter Timme, published bv Paul B. Hocbcr, Inc. 

 -See Nos. 2 and 3, p. 320. 



311 



