Inverse Relation Between Iodin in Food and Drink and Goiter, Simple and Exophthalmic

We consider that we have proved statistically that both simple1and exophthalmic goiter in the United States are caused by iodin starvation. The Swiss goiter commission has been concerned with the prophylactic use of iodin, particularly iodized salt, and it secured the services of Fellenberg2to make a study of the distribution of iodin in nature. Fellenberg has, in a general way, confirmed Chatin's conclusions. He also found that iodin when added to salt3was volatilized to some extent in ordinary storage in a grocery store. Since he found that the purer the salt, the less loss of iodin occurred, it seems probable that the loss is due to the presence of nitrites or nitrates which oxidize the iodid to iodin, which then is lost in the air. Fellenberg's report was not received by us until our work was complete. He developed methods somewhat similar to ours,