The Management of Exophthalmic Goiter

There are two matters of chief concern to every patient who seeks medical attention. First, he desires relief of distressing symptoms and, second, an ultimate cure, if such can be obtained. Any temporary or permanent disability must necessarily be reduced to a minimum. In our endeavor to meet these just and natural demands of the patient who comes to us with exophthalmic goiter, there are certain primary considerations which must guide us in his treatment. First and chief among these is that it must be recognized that so-called exophthalmic goiter is a disease whose etiology is as yet unknown. This fact renders impossible the prosecution of rational therapy and forces us to the employment of empiric methods. Rationality, however, should guide us to the extent which our knowledge of the pathologic physiology of this disease will permit. It is necessary to distinguish clearly between truly rational measures and those based