CHAPTER XX 



CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY OF THE DUCTLESS 

 GLANDS 



DISEASES OF THE THYROID 1 



As we have much evidence that the thyroid has a marked 

 influence upon metabolism, and also that it may be of impor- 

 tance in preventing autointoxication, the chemistry of diseases 

 of the thyroid may be appropriately considered in connection 

 with the autointoxications. 



THE FUNCTIONS OF THE THYROID 



Metabolic Function. That the thyroid has an important 

 relation to metabolism, especially of proteids, is shown by the 

 following facts : 



(1) Administration of the gland substance, or active prepara- 

 tions made from it, to healthy men or animals, causes a greatly 

 increased elimination of nitrogen in the form of urea. This nitro- 

 gen comes not only from the food, but also from increased 

 tissue-destruction, as is shown by the loss of weight and strength. 

 An increased destruction of the body fat also occurs, so that 

 thyroid therapy has been found efficient in the treatment of 

 obesity, but often dangerous because of the relatively great 

 amount of tissue-destruction. 2 



(2) Loss of thyroid tissue, either through operation or dis- 

 ease, greatly reduces both nitrogenous metabolism and oxida- 

 tive processes. Administration of thyroid preparations under 

 these conditions will bring the nitrogen elimination and the gas 

 exchange back to normal. 



(3) Deficient thyroid secretion in young animals prevents 

 their developing normally, the amount of deficiency varying 

 from nearly total lack of development in extreme cretinism to 

 slight grades of defective development (infantilism) or delayed 



1 General literature given by Shaw, "Organotherapy," London, 1905; 

 Richardson, "The Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands," Philadelphia, 1905. 

 For earlier literature see Mobius, Nothnagel's System, vol. 22 ; Wells. Jour. 

 Amer. Med. Assoc., 1897 (29), 897. 



2 See Rheinboldt, Zeit. klin. Med., 1906 (58), 425. 



483 



