PREVALENCE OF GOITRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10296, 3 June 1919, Page 3

PREVALENCE OF GOITRE

■ MANY WOMEN AFFECTED. ■ OTAGO PEOFBSSOE’S VIEWS. An address on tho prevalence of goitre in New Zealand and its influence on the coming generation .was given by Dr. Drennan. professor of patnology at the CKaKO University, at the annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention ol Cruelty to Women and Children. Dr. Brennan said that while the New- Zealand ohicial mortality returns dealt with exophthalmic goitre, which fortunately was not very common, no return at present showed -the extreme prevalence of what was . termed “simple goitre," especially in women. Goitre was a term applied to any form of enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck, which, when it was enlarged, caused, an appearance popularly described as a thick neck. After explaining the physiological changes in the thyroid gland leading to goitre. Dr. Drennan said that the increased glandular activity which this condition most commonly resulted in, caused a slight enlargement. but shoner or later, secondary changes occurred—hemorrhage and various .degenerations. The process might extend over a number of years and not give rise to any particular trouble, but it -was always a potential source of trouble and often of chronic invalidism. These changes wore much more common in.women, and they were liable to commence at from 12 to 16 rears of age. The two most prevalent theories for the occurrence of goitre were; (1) That goitre was in some way related to the water supply, (2) that it was the result of infectious agents. Investigations by Dr. Colquhoun in diflerent parts of New Zealand had gone to show that no apparent relation existed between goitre and the water supply, but Lieut,-Colonel ilcCarrison maintained that goitre was due to the bacterial infection of the water supply, and brought out the fact that the children of goitrous mothers were frequently born defective and in a condition' cretinism, due to a deficient thyroid secretion. "When I came hero two and a-half years ago.” said Dr. Drennan, "the first thing that struck me was the prevalence of goitre in women. I found ravself anxiously regarding the necks of all" women folk _ and. without exaggeration, I feel safo in saying that at least one in ten showed a thick neck. The condition is so common hero that it is regarded lightly or is unnoticed. In this connection certain questions arc at once asked : (1) Why are women especially aftected ? (2) Why are not all women affected? (3) Is the offspring likely to suffer?

“In answer to <ha first question, women ask more of their thyroids. cspecinl1t at certain times, and the gland respends normally or abnormall.r, depending on -its r.uoplv of raw material, which mav be dependent or altered by various factors. The first abnormal response is the beginn.ng of a goitre. (2) Only a proportion, but a large proportion of women, are affected. 13) The offspring is undoubtedly affected directly or indirectly by anything interfering with the health of the mother. "The 1 damage to future generations in New Zealand bv this prevalence of goitre cannot as yet bo estimated, for there is no data as yet, but judging by analogy the possibility of deterioration is groat. From extensive researches, mainly in America, the basic act seems t*j stand out that we are suffering from a widespread deficiency disease. Whatever the result 'of investigation ipto goitre will show that a more hveienic mode of life is all, that is required for the avoidance of this disease, or that seme deficiency exists in the food, can be decided only bv carrying through an investigation One would be inclined to think that something more than mere hygienic messnresnre required in:New Zealand, for conditions are similar, but genernliy-beu ter than those in England, while 'goitre is infinitely more common here."