GOITRE RESEARCH

Grey River Argus, 10 August 1948, Page 8

GOITRE RESEARCH

A programme of mutual assistance on goitre research, under which the Otago Medical School will analyse by microscope examination a series of slides to be sent by the University of California, Berkeley, was announced this morning by Dr. W. E. Griesback, a member of the Medical Research Council’s team engaged on physiology of the thyroid gland. Dr. Griesbach arranged the exchange scheme while on a short visit to the United States, from which he returned yesterday. For its part, Berkeley will make radio-active iodine tests in the programme already prepared by the Otago research team, under Dr. H. D. Purves.

“At Berkeley I found with some amazement that all our work at Otapo was very well known and actually receiving a lot of attention,” said Dr. Griesbach. “It was acknowledged by Berkeley workers that the thyroid research department in Dunedin had many years’ experience in the microscopical aspects of the thyroid and pituitary psyiology. Berkeley asked that we take part in the experiments they are carrying out on iodine action on the thyroid and they will send their microscopic slides by aircraft for examination in Dunedin. “This shows that contact with laboratories overseas may result in fruitful collaboration in the progress of science.” he added. The treatment of toxic goitre with radio-active iodine was beginning to spread widely in the United States, Dr. Griesbach said. It would be difficult to apply in New Zealand because radio-active substance is short-lived and would have to be carried by aircraft in a shield of 2991 b. of lead for each one-thirtieth part of an ounce of fluid. When the proposed atomic pile was constructed in New Zealand treatment might be possible.