EXTRACTS.) Twelve cases in which the thyroid gland extract was used. In 5 eases ob served in the hospital and in 5 out patient cases a definite influence of the treatment could be observed; the goitres markedly decreased in size, but in no case disappeared. Nearly the same effect is obtained by the well-known iodine treatment. The experience of many years shows that nearly 90 per cent. of all the cases can be improved by the use of iodine; only in 10 per cent. does surgical treatment become neces sary. The new treatment will probably have no great practical value in the treatment of goitre. Kocher (Cones. f. Schweizer Aerzte, No. 1, '05).
Administration of fresh thyroid gland or dry extracts of the gland to patients suffering with psychoses in association with parenchymatous goitre, while fol lowed by pronounced diminution in the size of the enlarged gland, is unattended with any influence upon the mental state. On the other hand, the medication also occasioned no unpleasant effects. Reinhold (Minch. med. Woch., No. 52, p. 1205, '95).
Differences exist in different patients in respect to the effect of thyroid treat ment upon metabolism. Albuminuria and glycosuria are regarded as unfortu nate effects; the former is rare. Den ning (Mfinchener med. Woch., Apr. 23, '95).
Results of treatment of sixty cases of goitre with thyroid. Cases of benign parenchymatous goitre were put under treatment without any selection. Cystic cases and those of malignant disease were excluded, as were also cases of exoplithalmic goitre. Instead of raw thyroid, tabloids were used in the dose of 2 daily to adults, I to children. Un pleasant symptoms. such as palpitation of the heart, nausea, diarrhoea, tremor, headache, etc., were treated by tempo rary withdrawal of the remedy. The duration of treatment was from three to four weeks on the average. In young children complete recovery was the rule. In older children marked diminution in the size of the goitre was observed, with cessation of symptoms. In adults re covery was rare and less common in pro portion to age. Complete return of the thyroid to its normal size is not to be expected later than the twentieth year.
Mild relapses were seen only three times, and in each case rapidly relieved by renewal of treatment. Bruns (Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., May, '95).
One hundred patients treated with thyroid extract, 7S of whom suffered from goitre. The raw sheep's gland, finely minced, brought directly from the slaughter-house to the hospital by one of the attendants and there carefully ex amined, so that any diseased tissue may be at once detected and rejected, em ployed. Many of the toxic phenomena
following its exhibition are due to early putrefaction. Of the 7S cases treated only 4 or 5 remained uninfluenced. A few showed such excessive reaction after its use that it had to be discontinued. Iu the majority the goitre soon showed distinct signs of retrogression. Only the hard fibrous growths remained totally unaffected. In cystic goitres the sub stance of the gland atrophied around, while the cyst remained distended, but seemed to become more superficial, so that its subsequent enueleation was much more simple. The same result oc curs in the adenomnatous growths, the isolated tumor or knots coming to the surface and being much more distinct than formerly. It is the simple, soft goitres that are mainly influenced, and especially those occurring in young peo ple. The bleeding in subsequent opera tions is much less than when thyroid extract bad not previously been em ployed. One unfortunate result is pro duced, viz.: a certain amount of heart weakness, which becomes very marked during and after the administration of the anmsthetic. Relapses also some times occurred after the cessation of the thyroid treatment. 0. Angerer (Min chener med. `Poch., Jan. 28, '96).
Thirty cases of goitre observed in which sheep's thymus was used, some times in its natural state and sometimes in the form of pastils of English manu facture. The thymus was administered in the form of hash spread on bread, in quantities of 150 grains for children and 225 grains for adults, three times a week. The effects of the treatment were ordi narily manifested at the end of three or four weeks, and the results remained the same when the treatment was continued for a longer time. Three patients, chil dren 10 and 12 years of age, were com pletely cured anatomically. In IS cases there was considerable amelioration, with diminution in the size of the tumor and in the symptoms provoked by it. In 10 cases the treatment failed completely. In none of the cases were toxic symp toms. The effects of the medication are particularly appreciable in diffuse, sim ple, hyperplastic goitre. Reinbach (Mit theilungen aus der Grenzgebeiten der Med. u. Chin, p. 202, '96).