The effect of iodine on hyperthyroidism in man / by S.J. Cowell and E. Mellanby.

  • Cowell, S. J. (Stuart Jasper)
Date:
[1924?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The effect of iodine on hyperthyroidism in man / by S.J. Cowell and E. Mellanby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    appearance of the headaches. The B. M. R. was on one occasion as low as + 5 per cent. (Fig. 7), but it fluctuated a good deal and at the patient’s discharge was + 20 per cent. The resting pulse-rate varied during this time between 90 and 100. During her stay in hospital there was a noticeable alteration in the size of the thyroid. On admission the circumference of the neck measured 14-J inches; when the potassium iodide was begun it was 14 inches, and at the time of her discharge it was 13J inches. The body-weight kept fairly steady during the whole period of observation. Fig. 7. Case VI. Iodide treatment was not begun till the patient had been resting for five weeks. It was followed by a definite fall in the B. M. R., although the pulse-rate was not greatly affected. Fig. 8. Case 7. The B.M.R. reached the normal level ten days after the commence¬ ment of iodide administra¬ tion. There is a very striking parallelism between the curves of the B. M. R. and pulse-rate. Case VII. Mild hyperthyroidism without exophthalmos. History. S. P., a clerk aged 32, complained of palpitations and nervousness which had troubled him for many years and which had become worse a few weeks before his coming into hospital. The palpitations were brought on more by excitement than by exertion, and were often accompanied by a tremor which temporarily prevented his continuing his work. He had been losing weight for the last year or two and had noticed a slight swelling of his neck. Condition on admission. He appeared thin in the face, but was otherwise moderately well nourished. There was no definite exophthalmos, although the eyes were a trifle staring. There was a slight uniform enlargement of the thyroid, which showed no pulsation. The heart’s apex beat was in the nipple line and the pulse-rate ranged from 110 to 120. There was occasionally a fine tremor of the hands. Treatment. One-half of a grain of iodide was given twice a day, after eight days of observation, during which he was kept at rest in bed and fed on the special diet. Progress. Before the iodide was begun the B. M. R. readings varied between + 30 per cent, and + 40 per cent. Five or six days after its administration there was an obvious improvement in the clinical condition and both the pulse-rate and the B. M. R. had fallen considerably. By the end of a fortnight the pulse- rate and B. M. R. had reached the normal level (Fig. 8) and the patient felt better than he had done for many years. The improved condition lasted