THE PREVALENCE OF GOITRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18543, 2 May 1922, Page 6

THE PREVALENCE OF GOITRE.

TO THE EDITOR* Sir, —As a visitor I am shocked to see how very prevalent goitre is in Dunedinin i fact, throughout the South Island. While in Christchurch a few weeks ago I noticed an article in the Press written from Switzerland, where this disease has reached alarming proportions, describing a meeting of Swiss specialists to discuss means of combating it by prophylactic methods. It was shown that the disease was caused there through the lack of certain chemicals in_ the food, and it was suggested that this lack should be introduced to everyone alike by treating all salt used in the country. Go you not think that it is high time some drastic action was taken here? 1 am neither a medical man nor a chemist, but that goitre can he cured I for one have ho doubt, since both my wife and myself were successfully treated by an Auckland chemist. But the position remains that those who will avail themselves of successful treatment are in the minority, and the Government should be shown that ir. is possible to prevent the spread of the disease in this generation and to prevent its occurrence the generation to come. The Swiss specialists I referred to consider that goitre can, be stamped out after one generation. Whilst this may or may not be an exaggeration, that, tremendous good could be done is apparent to anyone who has has country’s welfare sufficiently at heart to think about the welfare of future generations at all.—l am, etc., A Stitch in Time. Dunedin. April 29.