EFFECT OF THYROIDECTOMY ONNITEOGENOUS METABOLISM. 485 



r' Jan: 1:7 — Wt., lOi kilos. 



Jan. 19. — E. lobe and about | L. removed. 



Jan. 21. — Tremors; well marked extensor spasm, especially of 

 hind legs. Put in chamber. 



Jan. 22. — Dog found dead. 



Post-mortem. — Blood extravasated in neck, especially on left 

 side ; organs very congested. 



/ Here normal N. intake = 6 grms., output = 6-9 grms., with loss of 



< wt. of I kilo. 



( After tliyroidedomy, intake = 0, output = 7-23 grms. 



Not much value can be attached to this experiment, as only one 

 day was available for estimation after thyroidectomy. Taken in con- 

 junction with the others, it confirms Edmunds' estimate of the amount 

 of thyroid necessary for life in the dog— viz.,. that three-quarters of 

 the true thyroid tissue must be left if the parathyroids are removed, 

 or the upper half, including one parathyroid. 



No. VI. 



Jan. 31. — Put in chamber. Wt., 4*8 kilos. 



The average normal per diem was from Feb. 1 to 9 : Water, 157 cc. ; 

 urine, 41 cc. ; total N. intake, 4 grms. ; total jS". output = 3*45 grms. 



Feb. 22. — Left lobe removed and half right. 



The average per diem from Feb. 22 to March 1 : Water, 394 cc. ; 

 urine, 101 cc. ; total N. intake, 4-9 gims ; total N. output = 3-8 grms. 



The animal put on flesh to the extent of 0'6 kilo. 



Conclusions. 



These experiments, which are unfortunately insufficient in 

 number to do more than render certain results probable, tend 

 to show that partial thyroidectomy does not affect the meta- 

 bolism severely. In complete thyroidectomy the nitrogenous 

 output is increased but little beyond the amount it would be 

 in starvation with loss of an equivalent in body-weight. 



