GOITRE TREATMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 17

GOITRE TREATMENT

Sir, —In reference to Mr. D. Griffith's letter, I would like to draw attention to the actual results, as outlined in the bulletin of the Goitre Survey, carried out over a period of seven years, with special reference to Taranaki and Palmerston North. "Regardless of the increased consumption of iodine (by the usual medium) there has been an alarming increase in goitre." This is further evidence that there is more than one cause of simple goitre, and thus more than one therapy is needed. A certain number of goitre cases get benefit by supplementing for the bodily deficiency of iodine, thus giving the overworked thyroid gland the much-needed rest. To obtain this the dose must be regulated to suit the case, which necessitates professional attention. The iodides are not natural foods, nor do they contain organic iodine. If there are no illeffects from the iodide administration then the supplementation must be adequate. The recent method perfected by Dr. Turrentine and supported by Drs. Sherman, Hunter, Simpson and many others, and of which Dr. Marine and Kemball, his co-worker, are familiar, is by the administration of natural or organic iodine by the medium of plant life. lodides • do certainly atrophy the gland, which does not mean that the symptoms of thyroidisin are resolved. New Zealand doctors have done some quite original work, and when one reads the bulletins one cannot help but give full praise to those who undertook such a large task against public apathy and scored such splendid results. The statement made referred to by Mr. Griffith would need qualification. P. H. Meuli.