ENDEMIC GOITRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 4

ENDEMIC GOITRE.

DEFICIENCY OF lODINE. RESEARCHES OP PROFESSOR HERCUS.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association held in Auckland in March last, a paper was read by Professor C. E. Hercus, Otago Medical School, giving the result of his research work in connection with the iodine content of soils and vege tables in various parts of New Zealand. These researches have an important bearing on the prevalence of goitre in certain districts. In order to onoble Professor Kerens to pursue his inquiries, a grant was made by the Government, and it is understood that he will shortly furnish a report to the Minister of Health, giving the further results of his investigations. Dr Ada G. Paterson. Director, Division of Hciioor Hygiene, Health Department, also gave to the conference of the British Medical Association the results of the observations and pieventivo tioatmout carried out by -he school medical officers during the past, lew years. It will iow be possible to map out pretty definitely the chief areas in the dominion where goitre is endemic, and see how far those areas coincide with tho iodine deficiency in soil and vegetation as disclosed by Professor Hercus’s researches. It’ has been demonstrated that a deficiency of iodine is the principal, if not the sole, cause of endemic or simple goitre. For two or "three years past (Vie School Medical Service of the Health Department has earned on preventive and curaiive work by the administration of minute dosei of iodine preparations to school children (with tho consent of their parents) with satisfactory results. Facilities are new provided by which the children in all schools in endemic areas may obtain treatment.

According to reports received, the whole of the South Island is more or less affected, the areas in which the disease is most prevalent being in and about Christchurch city, the lower Cluthn, Taicri, and Blenheim districts. In the North Island, on the other hand, the provincial districts of Auckland and Hawke’s Bay arc reported to ho fairly free from goitre, but the disease is rather prevalent in the Hutt Valley. Wairarapa, and Wanganui-Taranaki districts. The New. Zealand branch of the British Medical Association recently urged the Government to introduce legislation under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act which would ensure that, sufficient iodine to protect from endemic goitre shall be introduced into the table salt imported into this country. Although this method of supplying iodine has been adopted with success in Switzerland and other places where goitre is prevalent, it is understood that the method now most favoured is the administration of a chocolate tablet containing 10 milligrams of iodine in the font, of an acid. It is considered by come medical author-tics that this method is more scientific and accurate than (lie use of iodized table sail.

Moat encouraging testimony to tho success* of tho anti-goitre campaign has come from Switzerland, the United States, and other countries. The valuable work’ done by Drs Horens, Dronnan, and Baker and by the New Zealand Department of Health has been recognised by Dr W. J. Mayo, of tho famous Mayo Clinic, and by British medical journals. Dr J. Wheatley, one of the British health officers, in a recent report, outlines the steps being taken in parts of England to reduce the amount, of goitre. It has been found, ho states, that in goitrous districts tho soil, vegetables, animals, and the water are all deficient in iodine, anu goitre can he prevented by the addition of minute quantities to the water or food—an amount equal to one yrain a year for each person. lie says: "‘'There are certain difficulties which militate against the adoption of the water supply as the vehicle for iodine, 'The giving of iodine labloidg to school children is a comparatively easy method, and for this reason it may be the one that will