28 TransaclioHS of the 



windpipe, must, one would have thouglit, produce the greatest 

 difficulty and irregularity in breathing. Indeed, one great work 

 on Anatomy states that it does so ; but I questioned several Swiss 

 on the subject, and they said that they found not even any in- 

 convenience arising from it ; so that they were able to run and 

 jump without losing their breath sooner than other men. Perhaps 

 in their case this was because their tumours were comparatively 

 small ; that is, about the size of a billiard-ball. I may here re- 

 mark that the goitre is not usually looked upon as a deformity ; 

 it is much too common for that ; nay, in some cases the women 

 who have no swelling are laughed at, and called " goose -necked." 

 Attempts have been made by medical men to remove this unsightly 

 swelling, but in no case has the attempt succeeded, except by one 

 application, namely, that of iodine. Iodine applied externally 

 has been found very useful, but its action is yet unknown, nor is 

 it likely that it will be understood until more is discovered as to 

 the sources of the goitre itself. 



Cr£tinism is a disease probably originating in the same cause 

 as goitre, but its effects are widely different. Tlie goitre seems 

 to be of but little importance to the afflicted; for provided that 

 the swelling is not large, it does not come in his way; it seems not 

 to interfere perceptibly with his breathing, neither does it exercise 

 any prejudicial effect on his spirits'; for he seems as happy and 

 contented as if he had no huge tumour to render him a repulsive 

 object to tlie eyes of his fellow-creatures. Cretinism, on the 

 other hand, is a disease afflicting the mind. The cretin is an 

 idiot, and in many cases so little reason has he left, that he is un- 

 able to find his way home, even when only a few feet from his 

 own door ! Most of the cretins have goitres also ; but this may 

 only arise from the fact that wherever cretinism prevails, goitre 

 is also found. I have seen several cretins myself without any 

 perceptible increase in the size of the neck, so that though it is 

 often the case that cretinism is accompanied by goitre, yet it by 

 no means invariably occurs. They both begin to develop them- 

 selves about the age of puberty ; but if the children are then re- 

 moved, when goitre is first beginning to be developed, they often 

 get the better of it. 



The cretin has his mad fits, like other madmen,*being much 

 worse at some times than others. His head grows disproportion- 

 ately large ; his words become thick, until his speech entirely 

 deserts him ; and his limbs become stunted and deformed. Thus 

 cretinism is a far more serious malady than goitre, afflicting 

 both mind and body. 



Cretins seem to be extremely fond of sunshine ; they will bask 

 in it for hours together, apparently wanting nothing. They are 



