IX 



THE THYROID-OVARIAN SYNDROME 

 BY G. L. ROHDENBURG, M.D., New York City* 



Endocrinology at the present time is still a rather 

 confused subject. Marked and typical cases of endo- 

 crine dysfunction are recognized without difficulty, but 

 the so-called "formes frutes" of these same disturb- 

 ances are all too seldom diagnosed. The importance of 

 the endocrine system in everyday medicine is being 

 more and more emphasized by the discovery of new 

 syndromes. As each new syndrome is recognized and 

 described, the present confusion is becoming less evi- 

 dent. All of the syndromes have symptoms explainable 

 on a basis of disturbed physiology, and once the exact 

 modus of this disturbance is understood, organotherapy 

 becomes more rational, and hence more successful. 



The basis of success in endocrine therapy rests on 

 the fact that no one gland is ever individually diseased, 

 in the sense that it may be the sole cause of all of the 

 symptoms present. The glands of internal secretion 

 form a closely-interrelated system and what affects one 

 affects all, though in different degree and manner. 

 Treatment, therefore, in order to be successful, must be 

 based upon a consideration not alone of the gland ob- 

 viously diseased, but also of those indirectly affected. 

 Lack of observation of this important principle is the 

 most frequent cause of failure in therapy. 



* The writer of this essay received the second prize of $100.00. 



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