PARATHYROID GLANDS 17 



possibly because the thyroid in children contains 

 less iodine. It ought not to be used in patients 

 who have ever shown a tendency to thyroidism, 

 lest acute poisoning or an attack of Graves' disease 

 be precipitated. 



Finally, we obtain a clue at last to the remarkable 

 action of iodides in arteriosclerosis and gummata, 

 and it is reasonable to hope that organic compounds 

 of iodine, which cause acute thyroidism more readily 

 than the alkaline salts, may be yet more effectual 

 in stimulating the activity of the thyroid gland. 

 In fact, thyroid extract itself may prove to be 

 the best remedy of all. 



Seeing that the activity of thyroid extracts 

 depends only on the iodothyrin, these should be 

 standardized chemically if they are to be given as 

 drugs. Leading chemists now issue an extract which 

 contains not less than 0*2 per cent organic iodine. 



REFERENCES.* 



RICHARDSON. " The Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands," 

 Philadelphia, 1905. 



ALLBUTT'S SYSTEM OF MEDICINE, vol. iv. part, i., p. 333, 

 1907 Edition (a full bibliography). 



HUNT AND SEIDEL. " Studies on Thyroid," Hygienic Labor- 

 atory Bulletin of Public Health, Washington, 1909. 



A. RENDLE SHORT. Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Journal, 



igiO, p. 122. 



KOCHER, HECTOR MACKENZIE. Discussion on Exophthalmic 

 Goitre, Brit. Med. Journal, 1910, vol. ii. pp. 931, 935. 



* Here, as in the other chapters, references are given only to a 

 few accessible authorities, in which a fuller bibliography will be 

 found. 



