In some instances the tablets seem to lose their effect, and it is then well to try those of another make for a time; the first will, if resorted to again later, often times be found to have the same good effects as when first tried, but the organ ism seems to get dulled to them, and not to respond so quickly after prolonged administration, just as is often seen in the use of digitalis in cardiac disease. The dosage must be regulated by the effects either advantageous or the re verse; where no bad symptoms are noted the drug may be pushed, but on the slightest evidence of any or some of the conditions to be immediately mentioned the drug should be stopped entirely for awhile, till all its bad constitutional effects have passed off.
The remedy may give rise to headache, syncope, and vertigo; to tachycardia, dyspncea, suffusion of face and profound perspiration; to rise in temperature of two or more degrees (slight rise is a good sign, as the patient's temperature is al most invariably from one to two degrees subnormal); to nausea, vomiting, gastro intestinal pains and profuse diarrhoea; to rheumatic pains, tremor, and general weakness; to itching, urticaria, ery thema, and eczema; to glycosuria or al buminuria. Many of these effects are
doubtless due to contaminations of the active principle of the drug, but at pres ent these noxious bodies cannot be sep arated, and therefore extreme care must be taken in the use of the drug. Most of the bad symptoms will pass off when the drug is stopped, and require no further treatment, but if the prostration that may occur is severe, suitable remedies to counteract this condition should be ac tively employed.
[Marie (La Presse Med., Oct. 9, '97) notes a curious symptom caused by thyroid treatment, namely: excessive thirst; the thirst was so great that the treatment had to be stopped; on the other hand, however, Briquet (La Presse Med., Oct. 9, '97) relates a ease where treatment cured the excessive thirst which had existed previously. But such a symptom is anomalous whether before or after treatment, and therefore of but slight significance. WILLIAM OSLER and RUPERT NORTON.] (See also THYROID EXTRACT in ANI MAL EXTRACTS, volume The treatment, as far as we can now see, must be continued on and off through life.