THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 73 



2 The treatment may have to be kept up a few 

 months, a few years and perhaps all the life of the pa- 

 tient, if recurrences are to be avoided. In children just as 

 large doses can be used as in adults, for observation has 

 shown that they tolerate thyroid extract very easily. 



3 Once the results are obtained, the treatment is to be 

 discontinued. Smaller quantities are to be used, varying 

 with each individual and the patient is advised to take the 

 medication for three weeks and then abstain for one week, 

 or again he may be told to take the medication one week 

 and rest the next. 



RESULTS OF THE TREATMENT. Thyroid medication is 

 indicated in all the forms of myxedema. It will always 

 bring about some improvement and may even cause 

 a cure. 



The results are the more marked as the child is younger; 

 the infiltration of the tissues decreases rapidly and a real 

 physical transformation occurs. The skin loses its 

 roughness, the hairs become less coarse and grow longer, 

 the features become more refined. The weight decreases 

 and the height increases. The intellect improves, follow- 

 ing the physical transformation. The indications for 

 treatment can be very easily regulated by the measure- 

 ments. As soon as growth ceases and weight increases, 

 the treatment is to be taken up again. 



In older children, the delayed growth is resumed under 

 the influence of the treatment. Due to the persistence of 

 cartilage, these individuals can still increase in size at an 

 age when growth has ceased in normal subjects. They 

 become susceptible of an elementary education and in a 

 few months the changes may be complete. 



In adults the therapeutic results are less marked. 



