A special opportunity was afforded at U. S. Veterans' Hospital No. 76 for this study on account of the large amount of material found in the neuropsychiatric and tuberculosis sections, and the excellent laboratory facilities offered. Our patients were, for the most part, from the Great Lakes districts, and it was significant that all of them presented a palpable and noticeable enlargement of the thyroid gland. This enlargement, with some symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism, suggested the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism until further investigation disclosed otherwise. The ages of the patients ranged between 22 and 32 years, with an average of 25 years.
All patients referred to our department underwent an additional physical examination in which special note was made of eye signs, vegetative nervous system manifestations, thyroid enlargement and pulsations, heart rate at rest and after exercise, and blood pressures. Mental and neurologic studies were made. A careful inquiry into