THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 91 



in women at the time of the menopause, or after 

 ovarectomy, the symptoms of Basedow's disease, in 

 general attenuated, will appear. They are characterized 

 more by a brilliancy of the eyes than by a true 

 exophthalmos, a swelling of the thyroid, an acceleration 

 of the pulse, and tremor. Ovarian organo therapy cures 

 or improves these cases. 



III. HYPERTHYROIDISM SIMULATING BASEDOw's DISEASE. 



This bears the same relation to Basedow's disease as 

 slight hypothyroidism bears to myxedema. 



The women suffering from this affection have character- 

 istic appearance: The eyes are bright, the thyroid is 

 slightly enlarged, they complain of palpitations of the 

 heart during the day or the night, which last a few minutes. 

 These symptoms are usually accompanied by a sensation 

 of strangulation or waves of heat, followed by sweating. 

 These women are usually very active, and constantly want 

 to be on the move. Some have an exaggerated emotion- 

 ability. Others are irascible. This condition is con- 

 genital and is more the normal condition of the patient 

 than a disease. 



The symptoms of hyperthyroidism appear after sorrow, 

 overwork, emotions or even slight annoyances. The 

 palpitations increase in intensity and become painful and 

 are accompanied by a sensation of constriction of the 

 thorax and sometimes a fear of death. The nervous 

 disturbances become exaggerated: tremor, insomnia, 

 abnormal excitability. All these symptoms very closely 

 resemble Basedow's disease. 



Between Basedow's disease and predisposition to Base- 

 dow's disease, characterized by cardio vascular instabil- 

 ity and nervousness, we have no definite demarcation. 



