Thyroid. – Pathogénésies de l’an 1900 – Robert Séror

Pathogénésies de l’an 1900

New, Old And Forgotten Remedies

By Edward
Pollock Anshutz

Presented
by Dr Robert Séror

Thyroid.

Preparation

-The
dried thyroid gland of the sheep is triturated in the usual way or an
extract may be prepared from the fresh gland.

(The following paper on the effects of Thyroid was written by
Dr. F. G. Œhme, Roseburg, Oregon)

The

Thyroid, especially if used continually
or in large doses, causes the following symptoms :

1

. Elevation of
the temperature.

2

. Increase of the
heart’s action and of the frequency and volume of the pulse, which,
however, is more compressible. Walking, even standing, after taking a
dose is apt to cause a feeling of faintness and even complete syncope.
The heart may become so weak that it cannot endure any over-exertion
without danger, even death may result.

3

. Shortness of
breath.

4

. Increase or
decrease of appetite, sometimes nausea, less frequently vomiting still
less diarrhœa.

5

. Improvement in
body nutrition generally, more complete absorption of nitrogenous food.
But later on nitrogen is excreted in excess of that taken in the food.

6

. Loss of weight.

7

. Increase of
sexual desire.

8

. Menses profuse,
prolonged or more frequent, rarely amenorrhœa.

9

. Increased
activity of the mucous membrane, kidneys and skin, which becomes moist
and oily, sometimes exfoliation of the epidermis.

10

. Rapid growth
of the skeleton in the young with softening and bending of those bones
which have no bear weight.

11

. A disease
closely resembling exophthalmic goitre. A cataleptic improved under
large doses of Thyroid, but when the dose of 75 grs. A day was reached, symptoms like those of
exophthalmic goitre developed with a pulse of 160, but no glandular swelling. When the Thyroid was discontinued the catalepsy
grew worse, the exophthalmic goitre better ; when resumed the
catalepsy better, the exophthalmic goitre worse.

A patient, while under

Thyroid treatment for myxedema, took, through a
misunderstanding, in eleven days nearly 3 ounces of the desiccated Thyroid, whereupon
tachycardia, pyrexia, insomnia tremor of the limbs, polyuria,
albuminuria, and glycosuria, in short, a disease similar to exophthalmic
goitre developed.

Thyroid

has
been used with benefit in the following diseases :

1

. Arrested
development in children, cretinism, idiotism.

2

. Myxedema. [The
extirpation of the entire Thyroid produces a disease resembling myxedema.]

3

. Simple goitre.

4

. Excessive
obesity with tendency to weakness and anæmia.

5

. Melancholia
functional insanity, where improvement has taken place up to a certain
point and then remains so.

6

. Defective
secretion of milk during lactation when connected with reappearance of
menses. Thyroid will suppress the latter and
increase and enrich the milk.

7

. In fractures of
the bones in which consolidation does not promptly occur.

8

. Hypertrophy of
cicatrical tissue resembling keloid, possibly true keloid.

Doses

 : Either the fresh gland of the sleep prepared
like food or the extract or in the dessicated state of the latter may be
given from 2-3 grs., or more or less, once a day (at night) or
oftener.

The

Thyroid is contra-indicated in tuberculous persons, as they are apt to
lose quickly in weight, over two pounds in twenty-four hours.

Rheumatic and anæmic symptoms are more frequently aggravated than
improved.

As the

Thyroid is a powerful remedy, the
following should be always remembered :

There is a decided difference with regard to individual
toleration ; some are very susceptible.

The pulse should be watched regarding frequency and quality. The
least effort or exertion will increase it even to

160, hence some cases should be kept in bed or at
least very quiet and tranquil even for a time after the remedy has been
discontinued. Deaths have taken place after a few days’ treatment.

If

Thyroid is not taken for myxœdema the
patient should be weighed at least every two weeks, and if pathogenetic
symptoms, called thyroidism appear the remedy should be discontinued or
reduced.

If softening of the bones has been caused it may be necessary to
restrict the use of the legs or to use splints.

Thyroid

seems
to have a cumulative effect.

In many cases a liberal diet should be prescribed to avoid injurious
consequences.

Numérisation, vérification, illustrations,
restructuration et mise en page par le Dr. R. S.