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One of the most obstinate disorders that afflict humanity—and one which seems to be rapidly on the increase—is goitre. Goitre is a general condition, in which the thyroid gland becomes progressively enlarged, producing an unsightly swelling low down on the front of the neck.

Associated with this swelling—whether as a cause or as an effect no one knows for a certainty—is a distressing state of nervousness, apprehension, and general discomfort.

Frequently the case becomes “exophthalmic” in type, running a pulse of 150 or more to the minute, and later developing irregularities in the heart’s action. In this form there is also a marked protrusion of the eye-balls, from pressure behind the globes of the eye, due to disturbances in the local circulation.

Many causes have been assigned for goitre, but no one knows for certain which is the correct one. Because of its prevalence in Switzerland and in other mountainous regions, where the inhabitants are obliged to depend upon water which was originally snow for their drinking supply, it was thought that the condition arose as a result of the lack of lime and other mineral salts ordinarily found in water which had been more intimately in contact with the earth. Yet the feeding of these mineral salts to those afflicted with goitre made no appreciable difference in the condition of these patients.

Other observers have ascribed goitre to the influence of the nervous tension, under which we live in this era of break-your-neck-to-get-there-and-do-it. Others locate the seat of this disease in the brain itself, in the blood vessels, and in the blood; others, who favor the so-called “mechanical theory,” ascribe the symptoms to compression by an enlarged thyroid gland of the nerves and vessels in the neck, although they neglect to tell us how the gland became enlarged, in the first place.

Many authorities claim that the trouble originates most frequently as a result of eye strain. They insist that the visual centres, using as they do, one-third of all the brain energy, are overworked, in our intensive modern life, and react upon the body to produce the toxins of fatigue. The thyroid body, one of whose functions it is to secrete a product which tends to neutralize these toxins, works overtime on the job, and not knowing when to quit, keeps right on working—with the result that the system is overcharged with thyroid extract. This thyroidism, as it is called, ultimately produces the goitrous symptoms.

Other clinicians contend that the disease is of microbic origin—which is quite unlikely—because when the glands have been brought to the autopsy table and the pathological laboratory, microbes have not been found in quantity sufficient to cause these grave symptoms.

But what interests and discourages those afflicted most is that if the cause is known, the successful treatment is even more unknown.

Medical men have treated these conditions on the general supposition that there was either too much or not enough thyroid extract secreted and discharged into the circulation by the thyroid gland.

So they gave thyroid tablets, made from the dried and pulverized glands of sheep. If these diminished the intensity of the symptoms, the doctors knew that the gland was deficient in its functioning powers, and that furnishing an additional supply from the glands of our woolly brothers would tend to restore the thyroid deficiency in us.

If, on the other hand, thyroid medication aggravated the condition, the physicians figured that the patient already had more thyroid substance than he knew what to do with. Hence they administered iodine in some of its combinations—generally as iodide of potash—in order to bring about a more active condition of the glandular system, and assist in the elimination of this extra thyroid secretion.

If the gland still grew, and the symptoms became worse, there remained the alternative of ligating or “tying off” the lobes, in order to diminish the secreting power of the organ. Or, more radical, yet hardly more generally effective, an operation was made—extirpating (cutting out) a considerable portion of the body of the thyroid.

This, as may be imagined, is a very serious operation, and fraught with considerable danger. Not so much from the operation itself, as from the consequences of the operation upon the psychological and mental condition of the patient. Not infrequently the entire nature and disposition of an individual may be changed by the apparently simple procedure of removing a few cubic inches, or less, of tissue.

So, on the whole, goitre has been a bugbear—most unsatisfactory from every angle. Yet, with the proper application of the principles of zone therapy, goitre—including the most advanced forms of exophthalmic—is one of the many conditions we are most certain of curing.

Almost from the first treatment, the feeling of suffocation, the distressing nervous symptoms and the pulse rate are favorably influenced. In from two to eight months the “pop eye” and the swollen gland are progressively reduced to normal.

Up to this writing, I have had more than thirty cases, every one of which, with two exceptions, have been cured and discharged, or are well on the way towards a cure. The tape measure shows that in some of these patients the swelling decreased three inches in as many weeks. One very responsive case was reduced from 14 1/2 to 13 inches in less than three days’ treatment. The photographs accompanying this chapter speak for themselves. (See Figures 7 and 8.) There is no possibility of doubting the actual accomplishments of this method in the face of these visual demonstrations. And, as with all matters detailed in these pages, the original patients and data may be seen by any medical man who is fairly interested.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Figs. 7 and 8.—Photographs of patient from New Hampshire, who consulted me April 1st, 1914, with well-marked bilateral goiter of two years’ standing. Patient had had constant pressure and frequently pain over sternum for three months, but responded quickly to distal pressures, and was agreeably surprised to learn that the pain and discomfort would disappear for hours after pressure as depicted in illustration. Twice daily the patient exerted pressure on the posterior wall of the epipharynx via the nostrils with a cotton-wound applicator moistened with spirits of camphor—for its antiseptic effect merely.

Patient returned to New Hampshire the first of May, after one month treatment, or fifteen visits, considerably benefited. The growth had entirely disappeared by the middle of June. The last photograph was taken in Hartford, July 1st. Pressure through the thumbs and index and middle fingers of both hands, (inasmuch as only three zones on a side were involved), and pressure on the posterior walls of the epipharynx with metal applicator alternately, which she continued at home, was the only treatment she received.

The explanation for the non-relief of the two cases which did not improve under treatment is simple—and very conclusive to those familiar with the method and its workings. One of these two non-benefited cases refused to carry out her “home treatment”. The other was a patient suffering from an uterine tumor. This produced a pathological condition in the goitre zone. Hence the goitre would not yield until all other conditions influencing this zone were removed. I sent this lady to a gynecologist and it is quite certain that, after this tumor is removed, she will, under appropriate treatment, entirely recover from her goitre.

Dr. Reid Kellogg and Dr. Thomas Mournighan of Providence, R. I., Dr. George Starr White of Los Angeles, Dr. Plank of Kansas City, and a number of other medical men, have reported that they have the same uniformly favorable results in treating goitre that we have here.

Dr. Kellogg has had a dozen cases, all of which have been, or are being, cured. It is interesting to note that one of his cases, also, a lady suffering from a slight erosion of the neck of the womb, made no progress until this condition was cleared up by proper local treatment.

Dr. Mournighan has also reported on fifteen cases—eight of which were of the exophthalmic variety—all improving or discharged as recovered.

In treating goitre by zone therapy a thin probe, (See Fig. 9), the point of which is wrapped in cotton dipped in a little alcohol, spirits of camphor or camphor water (these seem to increase the “impulse”) is passed through the nostrils to the posterior or back wall of the pharynx. Pressure is made in various spots “low down” on this wall (a little practice will soon determine almost the exact “spot” to probe), until a definite sensation is felt in the region of the goitre. Sometimes this is “metallic”. Or it may be a sensation of cold, or tickling, or like an electric current, or else a mild pain.

Fig. 9.—Special type of nasal probe used for attacking the posterior wall of the nasopharynx.

Fig. 10.—Dr. White’s Uni-Polar Post-Nasal Electrode for Zone Therapy. May be used with or without electricity.

This pressure is held for several minutes—repeated three or four times daily. It can be done just as well by the patient himself, if he has the courage to hurt himself a trifle. In addition to the treatment on the pharyngeal wall, pressures may be made upon the joints of the thumb, first and second fingers, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Or, if the goitre is a very broad one, and extends over into the fourth zone, the ring finger must also be employed. A moderately tight rubber band, worn upon these fingers for ten or fifteen minutes, (see Fig. 5), three or four times daily, will also help. Rubber bands may also be worn with benefit upon the toes governing the zones involved. But the treatment must be persistent. It must be the intent to keep the goitre zone “quieted,” never allowing it, except during sleep, to come completely out of the influence of the pressure. And even during sleep in aggravated cases, moderate pressure should be continued.

I would especially emphasize the importance of seeing that the teeth are put in a perfect condition before attempting the cure of any case of goitre. For there is no doubt that the evil influence of bad teeth is not, by any means, confined to the throat and tonsils, as many observers contend. Indeed, I do not recall having ever seen a goitre case in which there was not something wrong with the teeth. I therefore make a routine practice of sending all goitre patients to their dentists for a thorough overhauling of their teeth when commencing treatment.

Also, it may be interesting here to note that if the theory of eye strain causation of goitre is true—and it seems quite likely that, in many cases, it may be—pressure therapy may logically be looked for to give satisfactory results. For the effects of eye strain can undoubtedly be relieved by pressure exerted on the first and second fingers, as we shall show in the next chapter.

So one of the most puzzling and unsatisfactory conditions with which physicians have had to deal can now be said to be almost invariably curable. And the only instruments we need to operate these grave conditions are a straight steel probe, a few rubber bands, and the patient’s fingers.