MYSTERY TO ELUCIDATE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16406, 28 December 1918, Page 9

MYSTERY TO ELUCIDATE.

PREVALENCE OF GOITRE

, No doubt many persons feel concerned as to the prevalenco of goitre, or enlargement of the _ thyroid gland, amongst New Zealand inhabitants, says the "Journal of Public Health." The frequency with which goitre, manifesto ed Dy an enlargement of the neck, is observable —more particularly, in girls and women—at the present day cannot bo altogether ascribable to the present fashion of open neckwear. Many medical men believe that there is, at loast m somo districts in New Zealand, an unusual prevalence of this trouble —a disfigurement which may lead to the need for surgical attention. The causation of goitre is still a matter of doubt. So far as Now Zealand is concerned, the Minister is satisfied tho disease is sufficiently prevalent to demand thorough investigation as to its causation ana prevention, but war activities at present do not allow of the Hoalth Department entering upon such a detailed investigation as the problem demands. For the present, steps are being taken by the Acting-Chief health Officer and the District Health Auckland, working in conjunction with Dr. Drennan, of Pathology at tho Otago Medical School, which will, it is hoped, help to elucidate some of the mysteries of this disease now affecting three families in one district in the North Island. In time the Minister hopes to have the fullest possible statistical and other matter obtained by the Public Health Department's medical officers, to enable a definite opinion to be formed as to the prevalence of this disease in our population as combared with that of the Old Country (wliere, as most people know, the term "Derbyshire neck" denotes its association with a definite district) ; and more particularly to define the precautions to bo taken to prevent the occurrence of goitre t and the possibility of still more serious manifestations, such as "cretinism. ' in succeedine .eeneratiojis.