IODINE AND GOITRE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 54, 27 November 1928, Page 15

IODINE AND GOITRE

DOMINION RESEARCH WORK OF PROFESSOR HERCUS The importance that iodine has in relation to the prevention and cure of goitre, an affliction which is peculiarly prevalent in New Zealand in certain areas where the water supply is said to lack this essential factor, makes a few simple facts concerning the source of supply and distribution of more than general interest. As an antiseptic it is invaluable, and while the present prices are considered to be rather high even by the producers, it is not so costly that it cannot be in every domestic medicine chest for the treatment of cuts and other injuries where dirt is likely to cause complications. lodine occurs in sea water and in sea plants and animals, hence it is present in sponges and cod-liver oil. It is mainly found in crude Chile saltpetre, from which comes practically 97 per cent, of the world’s supply (the remainder coming from France and Great Britain). It is also found in rare minerals and mineral springs, one at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, being noted for the amount of free iodine it contains. Controlled by Syndicate. What is not generally known is that practically the whole supply is controlled very strictly by a powerful syndicate, which owns nearly all the South American and a gi;eat part of the Scotch iodine manufacture. The French iodine makers are bound by the syndicate only to produce for home consumption. It is obtained from deep-sea weed or kelp in Scotland and France, the weed being carefully burned and the ash extracted with water. The Scottish kelp industry is over 200 years old, and was established for the production of potash and soda. It languished for a period but early in the present century' gained fresh impetus from the discovery that iodine could be extracted from the kelp. Today the extractable quantity amounts to about 151 b. per ton of kelp slag. Only three firms in Great Britain now produce iodine. Dominion Research. Professor Hercus, ■ of the Dunedin Medical School, has done a good deal of valuable research work and investigation' in New Zealand, and this confirms what had been found by research in other countries, that goitre is prevalent in New Zealand in areas which are deficient in iodine, and that these areas are usually where the sources of water supply are underground or are from snow regions. The work done by Professor Hercus was brought to the notice of Dr. Mayo, of the famous Rochester Clinic, and it is understood that in consequence Professor Hercus was invited to join the Mayo Clinic. He preferred to remain in New Zealand to carry on the work, and is at the present time Government bacteriologist to the Health Department, and by co-operation between the University authorities and the department, directs the research work for which the department finds the finance. He has an expert chemist working under his control.

Oysters among fish foods are said to have a large iodine content, and advocates of a balanced diet recommend a greater consumption of oysters in New Zealand to make up for the deficiency in this respect; lodized salt, which is ordinary table salt containing a trace of alkaline iodide, is now being universally prescribed as a preventive for goitre, and in parts of Switzerland the sale of untreated salt is forbidden by law except to persons who are ultrasensitive to iodine. The water supply of the city of Rochester, New York, is treated with iodine by suspending a bag containing an iodine compound under the pipe supplying the reservoir, and the water absorbs enough iodine in this way to make up for the general iodine deficiency of the district.