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THE PARATHYROIDS:—TETANIA PARATHYREOPRIVA: ITS NATURE, CAUSE, AND RELATIONS TO IDIOPATHIC TETANY. PART I.: INTRODUCTION, GENERAL METHODS, AND SYMPTOMS
Author(s) -
Paton D. NoËl,
Findlay Leonard
Publication year - 1917
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0370-2901
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1917.sp000224
Subject(s) - tetany , emaciation , medicine , etiology , rickets , endocrinology , pediatrics , physiology , vitamin d and neurology
1. Idiopathic tetany and the various theories as regards its etiology are considered. 2. The previous work upon experimental tetany is dealt with in the three periods— (a) before the recognition of the possible significance of the parathyroid; (b) while the distinction between the thyroids and parathyroids was still doubtful; (c) after the direct implication of the parathyroids in the production of the symptoms had been established. The evidence that the condition is a true tetania parathyreopriva is considered to be conclusive. 3. The method of removing the parathyroids is considered, and the impossibility of getting rid of the internal parathyroids with certainty by any operation but complete thyroparathyroidectomy is indicated. The existence of supplementary parathyroid tissue in about 50 per cent. of cats and in probably about 5 per cent. of dogs is shown to explain the absence of symptoms in some cases of thyroparathyroidectomy. 4. The symptoms of tetania parathyreopriva are considered under the following heads:— I. Their protean character. V. Tremors and fibrillar tremblings. II. Depression. VI. Jerkings. III. Emaciation. VII. Convulsions. IV. Spasticity. VIII. Disturbances of balance. 5. Some of the factors modifying the character and onset of the symptoms are briefly considered:— (a) The nature of the food. (c) Rickets. (b) Age. (d) Pregnancy and lactation.