GOITRE IN CHILDREN

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2025, 6 September 1919, Page 3

GOITRE IN CHILDREN

CASES IN AUCKLAND. RARER THAN IN THE SOUTH. The statement regarding' the increase of goitre amongst children which has been made to the Wanganui Education Board by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, medical inspector of schools, was referred to a number of Auckland doctors. The-replies to the inquiries indicated that this complaint is not so prevalent in this district as in some of the southern centres (says the N.Z. Herald). Dr. Ethel Rands, medical inspector of schools for the Auckland district, stated that in the course of her" two years’ work in this district very few cases of goitre had come under her notice. The disease, as far us her observation went, was not nearly so prevalent here us it was in the South. In Christchurch and other centres in the South Island, Dr. Rands remarked, the complaint was very common. Although goitre had been the subject of wide.investigation, the cause had not yet been discovered. One theory advanced was that it was caused by the drinking of snow water and its prevalence in the Routh and in Switzerland was in keeping with that theory. The disease, sin? added, was very common among women in Derbyshire, where it was often referred to as the ‘‘Derbyshire Nock.” A doctor w|io Ims an extensive practice amongst children, said goitre was much more common among adults, particularly women, than among children, but it was not so prevalent in Auckland as in the South. Ho also remarked that what was often feared by parents to he goitre in children, was nothing more serious than a full made. Another, doctor inclined to the opinion that goitre was increasing to some extent in Auckland. ‘*J have seen more cases of late,” he said, ‘‘than I did in (he-early pari of my ’practice here, which extends back for over seven years. I certainly think there has been an increase so far a* my experience is concerned.’’ ■He remarked that I lie increase hail been noticeable among both women and gilds, and that among the eases that recently had come before him were those of a woman of nearly AO vears of age, and another between HO and 40. As to the cause of the disease, nothing definite was known, hut if had-been noticed that it was very prevalent in snow and lime ureas, Derbyshire being an example of the latter condition.