BRONCHOCELE, GOITRE, STRUMA 



265 



occurs in all countries and conditions, and appears where goitre in other 

 species is extremely rare. One observer is inclined to think it is caused by 

 the straining of a collar in harness, or to any active exercise; chronic 

 heart disease seems to have some bearing on the disease, but why, has not 

 up to the present time been definitely stated. Without a doubt, heredity 

 is a predisposing cause (struma congenita). Young animals have propor- 

 tionately a very large thyroid and it becomes reduced gradually as the 

 animal grows older, but occasionally the opposite occurs, and instead of 

 growing less it gradually increases. 



Goitre is very easily recognized, directly below the larynx on both 

 sides of the trachea. It is painless, there is no local increase in tempera- 





&Ps<--V.^ 



Fig. 98. — Malignant struma. 



ture, it may be hard or soft, sometimes irregular, sometimes as large as 

 a closed fist, and in extremely large ones from its weight it hangs down 

 from the throat. If the goitre is very large it may interfere to a certain 

 extent with deglutition. In cystic goitre the cysts can be easily distin- 

 guished on manipulation. The malignant forms are frequently uneven, 

 irregular and nodulated, and vary in consistence (Fig. 98).- 



Treatment. — It is either medicinal or operative. Medicinal treat- 

 ment is only useful in the parenchymatous or cystic goitre, the latter only 

 when it is not too far advanced and consists in the administration of 

 iodine either internally in the form of iodide of potassium, or iodide of 

 sodium in moderate do.ses, (0.1), or friction externally, iodine or iodide of 

 potassium ointment, oleates of iodine, or Lugol's solution of iodine. In 



