Myxoedema, cretinism and the goitres, with some of their relations / by Edward T. Blake.

  • Blake, Edward T. (Edward Thomas), 1842-1905.
Date:
[1894]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Myxoedema, cretinism and the goitres, with some of their relations / by Edward T. Blake. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    thick and the expression dull and vacuous, though the child may be made to smile. For the details of the next example, and for the use of the illustrations, I am indebted to the courtesy of Dr. Wallis Ord. In this case, the improvement in general intelligence, which took place under the thyroid treatment, was ex- ceedingly striking. Case F. K., a female child, was admitted to the Victoria Hospital, Chelsea, in February, 1893. She was then 7 years of age. She was a typical cretin. She could not walk, or speak, had but little intelligence, and no thyroid gland could be felt. She commenced thyroid treatment on March 1. The second photograph shows her at the end of six months' treatment. She could then walk, with rather a tottering gait, had gained markedly in intelligence, and had increased considerably in height. The percentage of urea in her urine increased from 4 before treatment to 35 after treatment. After the lapse of a year she can walk and run with ease; she can talk, not very distinctly as yet, but sufficiently clearly to make her wants known. She sings, with a very fair idea of tune ; she is growing rapidly, and is cutting her second teeth. Her intellect is distinctly sharp, and her memory good. She is still taking thyroid tabellse. It is interesting to note that for the first few weeks of treat- ment she lost weight rapidily, that there was then a stationary period, and that for the last eight months she has been gaining steadily. She has had no rise of temperature, and no symptom that could be attributed to the treatment, except that about Christmas last she began to exhibit great nervous irritability. The dose of the thyroid extract was then decreased, and this condition more or less passed away. She still suffers from occasional attacks of passion. The improvement in her skin, hair, and nails is remarkable. In fact, in this respect at the present time she is just like a normal child.