THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 127 



pected enlarged xhymus is discovered, it is indicated to 

 remove it at the time of the partial thyroidectomy. 



B. SYMPTOMS OF APLASIA OR HYPOPLASIA OF THE THYMUS. 

 CONGENITAL THYMIC IDIOCY. 



On post mortem examination of many deficient children, 

 no cerebral lesions are found. The thyroid is normal, but 

 the thymus is absent. At Bicetre from 1890 to 1903 out 

 of 408 autopsies of non-myxedematous mentally deficient 

 children, the thymus was only present in 104 cases 

 (L. Morel). 



The recent investigations of Carre, and Lampus have 

 also noted an aplasia of the thymus very marked in idiots 

 with bony deformities resembling rickets or osteomalacia. 



It is possible that thymic idiocy can be classified next 

 to thyroid idiocy by aplasia of the gland. 



The experiments of Basch, Klose, Vogt, L. Morel and 

 Lampus have shown that young dogs, several months 

 after thymedectomy, without bony deformities, developed 

 psychic changes characterized by sleepiness, total apathy 

 and the animals died usually in a year or a little more from 

 cachexia. The experimental syndrome after removal of 

 the thymus shows therefore, certain cases of idiocy, 

 accompanied with disturbances, not involving the bones 

 which are very similar. 



