In fifty-one cases of exophthalmic goitre, treated by the thyroid extract, the size of the gland has been dimin ished, but the other symptoms have not been relieved. Crary (Jour. Nerv. and Mental Dis., June, '96).
Case made very much worse by the thyroid extract. Leszynsky (Jour. Nerv. and Mental Dis., June, '96).
Four cases showing that, while thyroid extract has certainly accomplished a cure in two of the cases, the indications are strongly against its indiscriminate use in exophthalmic goitre. It acted bene ficially in the two cases and injuriously in the two others. Its cautious exhibi tion, in proper cases, however, is not to be discouraged. Henry L. Winter (Amer. Medico-Surg. Bull., July 11, '96).
A case of exophthalmic goitre success fully treated by thyroidin. Owing to anorexia and nausea, was obliged to sus pend the treatment three times, and to reduce the dose, but after about sixty days all signs of the disease had disap peared. A year later the patient was well, cheerful, and bright, and her men strual functions are regular. R. M. Whitefoot (Med. News, Oct. 3, '96).
Case of a girl of 13 years whose father had been an epileptic and whose sister had died of tubercular meningitis. Marked exoplithalmos; pulse, 140; thy roid gland perceptibly enlarged. Usual means having failed, resort had to desic cated thyroid, 5 grains after meals. After two days considerable relief. On the ninth day the powders gave out and in two days the pain returned. After five months of treatment, exophthalmos and thyroid enlargement greatly reduced, and patient comparatively well. Kerley (Pediatrics, June 1, '97).
Thyroid extract given in case of ex ophthalmic goitre in which sudden swell ing of the gland was so severe as to in terfere with breathing; also in a case of acute thyroiditis. In both cases the swelling subsided and symptoms were relieved. J. Eliot (Va. Medical Semi monthly, June 28, '98).
GOITRE.—In simple goitre the prepa rations of thyroid prove effective in about two-thirds of the cases, the results rang ing from total disappearance of the goitre to a noticeable reduction in its size. Children and young adults are benefited in the great majority of instances. A favorable result is seldom obtained in adults. Increasing doses seem to procure the most satisfactory effects. The influ ence of the remedy is felt after the first three or four days in successful cases, and, in a month or so, the reduction of an average tumor will generally have been effected. In order to keep the goitre from returning, the administra tion of the remedy must be continued, the preparation being given in reduced quantities and at longer intervals.
The results have been practically the same whether fresh or desiccated glands or extract were employed. Its admin istration should be carefully watched, however, and the dose reduced upon the appearance of any untoward symptom.
Six insane patients with goitre treated surreptitiously, using raw thyroid from the sheep, or 1 'I, drachms concealed in slices of sausage in a sandwich, re peated in ten or fifteen days. In five cases there was an appreciable diminu tion in the size of the goitre after each ingestion of thyroid. No untoward symptoms. Emminghaus and Reinhold (Les Nouveaux Rem'edes, No. 18, '94).
Nineteen patients treated with tablets, but in no case did the goitre disappear entirely. The gland sometimes became smaller, but not unless the patient was young, and the effect was only tempo rary. Ewald (Berliner klin. Woch., Feb. 3, '95).
Ninety-three patients treated partly with an extract of fresh thyroid glands of wethers and partly with thyroid tab lets. In twenty-five cases glands of freshly slaughtered animals reduced to a pulp and mixed with water were used exclusively, the average quantity taken by a patient in a week being 5 drachms, although in some cases it rose to 9 drachms. In the hot season the patient complained of slight gastric troubles, which, however, disappeared as soon as the thyroid preparation was preserved in ice. There was only one instance in which the treatment had to be discon tinued on account of its disagreeing with the patient. The thyroid gland regained its normal dimensions in only four of the twenty-five patients treated in this way, and in only two of these four was the good effect permanent, for the other two had a relapse after the expiration of a month. In all the other eases there was an obvious reduction in the size of the gland, and with two of the patients this was permanent, but it generally began to swell again whenever the treatment was stopped. The frequency of the pulse was a little augmented. but never so much as to make an interruption of the treatment necessary. A number of pa tients after having taken the fresh glands for several weeks were then treated by tablets. In another series these tablets were used from the beginning of the treatment. The results were much less satisfactory. Stabel (Berliner klin. Woeb., Feb. 3, '95).