Vi 
THE ENDOCRINE ASPECTS OF OBESITY 
By J. W. NEVILLE, M.D., San Francisco, Calif. 
The most firmly established relation between obesity 
and endocrinology is the well-known ability of thyroid 
extract to reduce weight. When first introduced into 
therapeutics in 1894 by Wendelstadt in Germany and 
the next year by Buquin? in France, its adoption by 
the profession was purely on empiric grounds, but 
proving so effectual and producing such pronounced 
results, its use soon became widespread. This popular- 
ity was not without bad results, for the effectiveness of 
the remedy soon recommended it to those unacquainted 
with its use and ignorant of its dangers. No greater 
prostitution of modern scientific knowledge exists in 
medicine than the indiscriminate use of thyroid extract 
in the “treatment” of obesity. It is to be regretted 
that this effective therapeutic agent has been utilized 
so extensively by charlatans and quacks in their pro- 
prietary “fat reducers.” 
A certain degree of uncertainty exists in the minds 
of many medical men as to the correct relation of 
obesity to disease. Some consider it as merely an 
extreme variation from the normal and object to treat- 
ing patients for obesity. Others administer treatment 
with the idea of weight-reduction for cosmetic effects 
only. The latter procedure is rather outside the sphere 
of medical practice. (Axteli)* That both conceptions 
are incorrect becomes evident when the broader endo- 
crine viewpoint is taken. 
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