EXOPHTHALMIC GOITRE.
Definition. A complex disorder manifested by hypertrophy of the thyroid, excessive bulging of the eye balls out of the orbits, cardiac palpitations or tardy heart action and other nervous or trophic disorders.
Cadiot records a case in a horse, in low condition, with painful œdematous swelling of one fore foot, and swellings in other parts of the body, great enlargement of the left lobe of the thyroid, tumultuous heart action with beats 70 to 80 per minute, and strong visible pulsations in the superficial arteries. There was no leukæmia and no exophthalmia. The patient died on the third day.
Jeswejenko records that of a four year old English thoroughbred which after a race showed anorexia, weakness, thirst, rapid pulse, palpitations, conjunctivitis, enlarged thyroid and after fourteen days exophthalmia with thyroid pulsations. It died in the fourth week, anæmic and exhausted. A second case in a 7 year old bitch recovered in three months under treatment with iodine.
Röder gives the case of a cow with palpitations, abnormally strong pulsations, thyroid hypertrophy and double intense exophthalmia. This persisted for four years.