DISEASES OF RESPIRATORY PASSAGES AND ORGANS. 10ft 



glands without ducts or outlets, and thus they correspond with 

 the spleen, thymus gland, and supra-renal capsules, all of -which, 

 when in active operation, are largely supplied with blood. Ai 

 regards the function of each, they may be supposed to fc».}-arat« 

 certain materials from the blood, and only differ from ordinary 

 glands in not having a direct outlet. Consequently, not knowing 

 the jDrocise part w^hich the thyroid glands play in the animal 

 ^onomy, it would be very unwise to remove them, when their 

 enlargement, in some cases, amounts to little else than an " eye- 

 sore." Their enlargement is generally the consequence, and not 

 the cause, of disease. Men, horses, dogs, and cattle of the scrof- 

 ulous diathesis, are known to have what may be termed chronic 

 enlargement of these glands, and this peculiarity would seem to 

 indicate that the thyroid glands are somewhat associated with the 

 lymphatic system. Then, again, we find these glands enlarged 

 in cases of throat and lung difficulties — in catarrh, influenza, dis- 

 temper, etc. — so that their extirpation would not remove the 

 oi'iginal difficulty. In such cases they decrease in size as soon 

 a* the original malady ceases. The enlargement is not then of 

 a permanent character. 



Treatment. — Should the enlargement appear to exist independ- 

 ent of febrile symptoms, twenty-five grains of the iodide of 

 potassium may be given daily, in water (which the patient will 

 not refuse to drink), and a small portion of the ointment of 

 iodide of potassium may be rubbed on the enlargement, with 

 decided advantage: 



No. 16. Iodide of potassium 1 part. 



Lard . 8 parts. 



Mix. 



On the Action of Iodine. — Iodine and its compounds are the 

 principal agents used by veterinary surgeons for the treatment of 

 glandular affiictions, and they supersede, to a certain extent, the 

 preparations of quicksilver, in the form of mercury, which are 

 apt to be absorbed into the system, and thus produce mischief. 



Morton, in his " Manual of Pharmacy," thus alludes to iodine: 

 •*The action of iodine and its compounds is markedly seen on 

 glandular structure, and newly-formed and abnormal growths. 

 For the latter they seem to manifest a decided preference, which 

 renders them so valuable as therapeutic agents. Their influence 

 Lb that of a stimulant to the absorbents; and by means of these 



