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 1 in Germany and 

 the next year by Buquin 2 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. (Axtell) 3 That both conceptions 

 are incorrect becomes evident when the broader endo- 

 crine viewpoint is taken. 



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