72 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



results, because of the total resorption of the gland. In 

 spite of a few successful cases reported by Charrin, 

 Christiani, Gauthier, etc., who grafted in the subcutaneous 

 cellular tissue small fragments of thyroid, the method 

 has not become generalized. 



To-day, thyroid organo therapy is the only method 

 employed. 



ORGANO THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS. Thyroid is usu- 

 ally administered by mouth as the dried extract, fresh 

 gland or iodothyrin. 



a The fresh gland is a very active medication, but can 

 only be used absolutely fresh. Sheep's gland is used, the 

 average dose being between 1.5 grammes to 3 grammes in 

 adults (or 1 or two lobes), 0.25 to 1.5 grammes in children. 

 It is given raw, spread on toast or chopped up and mixed 

 with milk, or slightly warmed up soup. In certain cases of 

 congenital myxedema who swallow with difficulty, it is 

 possible to administer thyroid, chopped up very finely, 

 in an enema. 



b The dried gland as a powder, prepared in a vacuum 

 and in the cold is the best preparation to use, because of 

 its ease of administration. The average dose is from 0.3 to 

 0.4 grammes. 



c Iodothyrin is one of the active principles of the 

 thyroid and is given in doses of 0.25 to 0.75 daily. 



METHOD OF ADMINISTERING THYROID MEDICATION. 



1 It is first necessary to find out gradually the 

 susceptibility of each patient and begin with small doses 

 (% of a lobe or 0.05 grammes of the dried powder in a 

 child, Yi lobe or 0.1 grammes in an adult) and slowly 

 increase the dose. 



