Jonathan Kay has drawn attention to today's news item regarding
treatment with "natural" thyroid hormones.
Those interested may wish to refer to:
The Pathology and Treatment of Myxoedema. G.R.Murray . BMJ, August
27th 1892, 449-452.
A case of myxoedema treated with great benefit by feeding with fresh
thyroid glands. Hector W.G.McKenzie, BMJ, October 29th 1892, 940-941
The treatment was monitored in those days by temperature and
pulse rate. McKenzie notes "..it is less nauseating when given with a
little brandy".
In his case number 4 Murray notes....."weekly injections, varying
from mxii to mxxv of the thyroid extract took place, so that scarcely
any signs of myxoedema were left. She then went away to the
country; but one morning, about a week after, while stooping to put
on her shoes, she "fainted" and died about half an hour later from
cardiac failure...."The cases with signs of cardiac degeneration
should either not be selected for treatment, or they must be
specially warned not to take any unusual exercise when the
improvement takes place."
David Cook
Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Tel: 0191 222 7865 or 222 6935
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