GOITRE PROBLEM.

Evening Star, Issue 22195, 25 November 1935, Page 18

GOITRE PROBLEM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Referring to your report of the address by Dr C. E. Hercus on the problem of goitre, may I suggest that, for the benefit of your readers, you should give the views of the other school of thought on this subject by reprinting the article (or part of it) which appears in the Auckland ‘ Weekly News ’ of October 16, 1935. It will then be seen that while one school of thought would iodise almost everything for us and compel us to eat it, the other school maintains that the addition of inorganic iodine to our foodstuffs is “ undoubtedly a potent factor ” in causing chronic diseases of several organs of the body. The winter of tho article in the ‘ News ’ gives no indication of whether he is a qualified medical practitioner, but the ‘ Weekly News ’ must he satisfied as to his bona fides. In any case, he definitely quotes “ a well-known medical man at Home,” who again quotes “ three other doctors ” in support of his contention.—l am, etc., November 22. Aeneas.

[Dr Hercus states that the author of the article referred to is obviously not a medical man, and the authorities quoted represent no recognised vfiiool of medical thought. The statements made as to the effects of inorganic iodine in the body are speculative to a degree and entirely unsupported by. any scientific evidence. Inorganic iodine in the quantities contained in the salt is very much an essential food, and is being used extensively with excellent results in many countries in the world.—Ed E.S.]