Effects of Thyroid Feeding on Monkeys. 369 



Exophthalmos, after the administration of thyroid preparations, has 

 been observed before. Beclere, in a case of myxcedema in man in which 

 excessive doses of thyroid were given by mistake, noticed amongst 

 other symptoms a certain degree of exophthalmos. Ballet and 

 Enriquet, in one of six dogs which were fed on thyroids, found dis- 

 tinct exophthalmos. Cunningham also obtained this symptom in 

 rabbits and monkeys. 



As the eye changes can be produced by stimulation of the cervical 

 sympathetic, it seems reasonable to infer that thyroid extract acts in 

 the same manner, and also that the increased secretion of the enlarged 

 and altered thyroid of Graves's disease is in part at least the cause of 

 the exophthalmos, that occurs in that affection. 



The falling out of the hair in patches and its loosening generally 

 were common symptoms, and were seen in all the monkeys. 



As to paralysis, in two of the experiments the hind limbs became 

 paralysed ; in one of these cases *the treatment was stopped to see if 

 any improvement followed, but it did not, and the animal died in a few 

 days. In another experiment both arms became paralysed; this 

 passed off in two days without the treatment being stopped. 



These paralyses have also been noticed before. Beclere, in the patient 

 referred to above, found one day hemiplegia with aphasia and hemi- 

 anaesthesia, all of which disappeared in a few hours. In thyroidless 

 monkeys, Horsley has twice seen a complete hemiplegia, following an 

 attack of clonic spasms, and passing off in a day or so. In one of my 

 thyroidless monkeys a temporary paresis of one arm occurred. 



The symptoms of loss of flesh and muscular weakness occurred in 

 all the experiments, and in all too the animal died, at periods varying 

 from forty to 116 days from the commencement of the treatment. 



In two cases the feeding was stopped, but only when the symptoms 

 were well marked ; there was no improvement, and the animals died. 



The main conclusion arrived *at is, that in monkeys thyroid feeding, 

 if large doses are given, produces exophthalmos. 



REFERENCES. 



Ballet and Enriquet : ' La Medecine Moderne.' December 26, 1895. No. 104. 

 Beclere : ' Gazette des Hopitaux.' October 16, 1894. 



Cunningham : ' Journal of Experimental Medicine.' March, 1898. Yol. 3. 

 Horsley : ' Clinical Society's Report on Myxcedema.' Yol. 21. 1888. 

 Hutchison :< Journal of Physiology.' Yol. 23. (1898). 

 Edmund White : ' Pharmaceutical Journal.' September 2, 1893. 



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