SEVERE FEBRILE IODISM DURING THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

Iodine has been used in the treatment of exophthalmic goiter for more than a hundred years. It was not until 1923, however, that Plummer¹ first presented convincing evidence of the value of medication with iodine as an adjunct to surgery in the treatment of hyperthyroid patients. Today the administration of iodine in the form of compound solution of iodine (Lugol's solution) or potassium iodide is employed in a routine manner as a preoperative measure by the majority of physicians and surgeons both in this country and abroad. Properly used, iodine appears to effect striking clinical improvement, as manifested by a diminution of the nervous symptoms, a fall in the basal metabolic rate, a decrease in pulse rate and frequently an appreciable gain in weight. As a result of the alleviation of many of the signs and symptoms of the disease the patient is better prepared to withstand the shock