Acquired cretinism or juvenile myxœdema / by William Rushton Parker.

  • Parker, William Rushton.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Acquired cretinism or juvenile myxœdema / by William Rushton Parker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    lost his sight from (apparently primary) optic atrophy, and simultaneously myxoedema developed, so that when I saw him he was very stunted and broad, much swollen in the abdomen, hands, lower limbs, and face; had a staggering gait, very rudimentary genitals, very badly enamelled teeth, and was a complete imbecile. Dr. W. M. Ord diagnosed the case. A younger brother was simultaneously attending at Moorfields Hospital with kerato-iritis and choroiditis ; and it was in the search for syphilis in the family that I had hunted out the myxoedematous youth. 6 and 7. Brothers, under Dr. Hertoghe.1 At 21 and 7 months of age respectively they had suffered simultaneously from a nearly fatal throat affection (diphtheria ?), after which growth was slow. They learnt to walk at 7, and were sent to school at 12. At 19 and 18 respectively they stood 3 ft. 8| in. and 3 ft. 7 in., and under thyroid extract they both grew over 7 in. within two years, losing their cretinous aspect, and acquiring much more intelligent features. Aged 19. Aged 18. Cases 6 and 7, brothers. After n months. 8. A woman, aged 26, under Dr. S. Holgate Owen. Nothing abnormal was noticed till aged 6, when scoliosis was found. She began to menstruate at 23. At 26 she had the characteristic features of cretinism; she stood 3 ft. 4^ in. high, and weighed 3 st. 3lbs.3 9. A girl, who went to school till 8^ years old, reading well, and learning arithmetic. At 13 myxoedema was dia- gnosed by Drs. W. M. Ord and Barlow. Her intelligence was then equal to a child of 4. She had lost her memory, her power of speaking and writing, and the use of most of her voluntary muscles.4 10. A woman, aged 20, who had apparently suffered from myxeedema for 5 years, and died suddenly of pneumonia.'1 References. De l' [vfluence ties Produitg Thyrdiaicns sur la Croissance. 2 Medico-Chi* ur- fflcal Transactions, vol. liv, p. 159, and plate. 3 iMncct, 1893, December 16th, P- 1516. * Clinical Society's Report on ilyxmlenia, case 14. 3 Report on Myzadema, Case 107.