GOITRE AND TANK WATER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 5

GOITRE AND TANK WATER.

Sir, —More than twenty years ago a communication appeared in tho pages of the "Lancet" (London) drawing the attention of tho medical profession to tho incidence of goitre and tlio use of roof-Water. During the short time I have been in practice in New Zealand, I have attended more cases of goitre than I liavo met with in a number of years. As m.y work has lain exclusively amongst those (in this country) who drink water collected -'from roofs of houses and sheds, I cannot but .imagine some connection between this water and tho disease. The principal contamination of such water arises from the droppings of birds, and tho "furring" of kettles with an insoluble deposit shows that this form of impurity is considerable. Although a simple goitre improves quickly under suitable treatment (I had seen many such), the severer forms, due to neglect, cause so much suffering and distress that I think the warning given by a skilled and experienced observer years ago may be. repeated with benefit to-day. . .Farther, I think that a. systematic analysis of. roof water might reveal impurities .worth investigation in relation to goitre.—l am, etc., MEDICI'S. Apitij January 29, 1914.