Recently several experimental studies, carried out in different parts of the world, have indicated possible general benefits or detriments from administering iodide during long periods. The advent of iodide medication of whole populations, as with iodized table salt, iodized drinking water and iodized confections, has given special interest to these observations. So far as detrimental effects are concerned, there appears to be no doubt from these experimental studies that harmful effects in healthy animals receiving continued small doses have not been demonstrated. However, as to possible benefits, opinions and conclusions are not unanimous.
Favorable results indicating moderate though variable increases in body weight and growth of a great majority of white rats receiving iodized food continually during the major part of their lives have been mentioned previously in these columns.1 The feeding of other salts to companion rats under the same conditions failed to exert similar benefits. These results