800 Enzootic Cretiuisiii in Animals. Psychoses. 



given good results in man and is also without danger in ani- 

 mals as a case of llies's pro\es. 



Literature. Albrecht, W. f. Tk., 1895, 233.— Bircher, Ergeb. d. Path., 1894, 

 I, 1, Abt. 5.— Cadiot, Bull., 1892, 138.— Gorig, D. t. W., 1898, 306.— Marek, Vet., 

 1894, 310.— Eies, Eec, 1899, 145.— Roder, S. B., 1890, 77.— Sonnenberg, B. t. W,, 

 1906, 554. 



Enzootic Cretinism in Animals. In regions where endemic cretin- 

 ism occurs in man (especially in the enclosed valleys of the Alps, 

 Pyrenees, in Franconia and in the Palatinate) frc(iuent cases of cretin- 

 ism were also observed in dogs, and were investigated by Cerletti & 

 Pernsini, v. Wagner and by Uexler. The disease may possibly occur in 

 the other domestic animals also, although the cases hitherto described 

 under this name probabl}^ l)elong to chondrodystrophy (socalled fetal 

 rickets). Von Ilansemann saw a case of cretinism in a jackal. 



The cause of cretinism is found in a congenital complete failure of 

 the function of the thyroids in consecjuence of disturbances in develop- 

 ment or disease of the thyroid gland under the influence of unknown 

 local injurious factors. Disturbances of metabolism thus caused re- 

 sult on the one hand in anomalies in the growth of the bony system 

 aiid the soft parts, and on the other hand in disturbances of the de- 

 velopment of the brain, and pyschotic symptoms due to them. 



■ The symptoms consist usually in a moderate enlargement of the 

 thyroid glands, by a short and compact spinal column, with a large 

 and short skull ; the extremities are short and clumsy and the neck is 

 short and thick. Rolls of skin are seen, especially on the head and 

 neck, which cause the anterior part of the body to seem developed ex- 

 cessively in comparison to the hind part. Such animals frequently 

 suffer from digestive troubles. Psychic abnormalities are especially 

 prominent, being chiefly characterized by apathy. Although the senses 

 are not much impaired the voice of the animal is strangely weak and 

 it is apathetic, its ability of observation and of association is impaired, 

 and its whole demeanor stupid, sleepy and lazy (Dexler). 



A condition similar to cretinism may be induced experimentally by tliyreoidec- 

 tomy (cachexia strumipriva), as the exi)eriments of Lanz, and especially those of 

 Zietzschniann prove. This is true particularly in young animals, whilst adult animals 

 become ill only after many mouths, and present a somewhat different clinical picture. 



By treatment with thyroid gland these symptoms can, as a rule, 

 ])e made to disappear completely or in a great measure. The thyreoidi- 

 num depuratum (1 dessertspoonful of the solution 0.1:100 internally) 

 or the thyreoidinum Poeld (0.3-0.6 gm. 3 to 4 times daily) mny be used 

 for this object. 



Literature. Dexler, B. t. W., 10(10, 391, (Lit.).— Zietzschniann, Mitteil, a. d. 

 Grenzgeb. d. Med. u. Chir., 1908, 353 (Lit.). 



11. Psychoses. 



As true psychoses (mental disorders) are designated in 

 human medicine diseases of the cerebral cortex which are 

 diffuse and usually only functional. They develop independ- 

 ently, run a clironic and afebrile course and are characterized 



