GOITRE REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1925, Page 1

GOITRE REPORT.

WELLINGTON. June, 23, The Health Department lias received a valuable report on “Endemic Goitre in New Zealand” trom Professor Horens. with whom have been associated in this enquiry Professor AY. N\ Benson, Professor of Geology, and Air C. 7/. Garter, Lecturer on Chemistry. RESECTS St AIAI All I SKI). The results may he summarised, as follows: I I,DIG children examined, 3D per cent, were found to have normal, and til per cent, enlarged thyroids. . . . Goitre was also found in many species of animals in the district. An account is also given of an extension of the survey of goitre throughout Xew Zealand, including the Afaoris in the l -rewera Country. Approximately 18 per cent of tho Alaoris there were found to be affeetedChapters follow giving detailed results of examinations of: (!) “The iodine in soils, waters, fertilisers, and commercial salt in Xew Zealand.” (2) “Previous investigations of the distribution of iodine in rocks, minerals, soils, and water,” etc. AMOUNT OF lODINE IX SOIL. In order to ascertain if possible the geographical factors (including tho geological) influencing the incidence uf goitre, we have divided the eountrv

into 33 districts of varying size, eac-li more or less uniform in regard to its geographical conditions, and have determined the average amount of iodine in a resprosentntivc series of soils from each. Hi each district also has been determined the average incidence of goitre as determined by the examination of school children hy the State medical officers.

Incidence of Goitre in School Children in Relation to’Amount of lodine in tlm Soil.

deficiency of iodine. . . . “Finally we come to the hypothesis that the disease is primarily due to deficient iodine intake.”

Percentage Crude Incidence Av’ago of of Todino Goitre. in Soil Stewart Island _ 87 Bluff 2.1 20 Invercargill and .Southland 35 20 Wnimea Plains: 31 G Cluthn Valley 10 1 Taicri Valley and Milton 30 G Dunedin 19 32 North Otago 17 13 South Canterbury 02 3 Christchurch 01 9 Banks Peninsula 31 [) Xorth Canterbury 58 0 Marlborough 38 3 Nolstfn •29 17 West Coast 52 12 Wellington 2 5 40 Hiltt Valley 11 10 Wnirarapa and Dannevirke 20 24 Hawke’s Bay 1.5 9 Gisborne 1.1 13 Horow henna ■1 137 Palmerston and Morton 15.5 9 Wanganui and Paten. 41 8 Taranaki 4 166 ■Main Trunk Lino 22 _ Taumarnmii 35 14 West Coast and Te Kuiti 59 25 Waikato and Piako Valley 70 55 Taupo and Rotorua G9 10 Bay of Pl-entv 26 18 Cape Colville Peninsula 2 11 -Auckland. ■1 158 Xorth -Auckland 3 53