Re: Travels through Switzerland, iodine deficiency in the 1800s

This article is good because it was published after the discovery of iodine, therefore the cause is pinpointed as lack of iodine. Earlier travel writings suggested that it was possibly the water, but nothing definite. Sure it was the water, no Iodine in it!

Some sources say that the water was pure, some say that goiters increased in size at different times of the year(snow run-off). Some say that there was polluted standing water...

There are other areas in the world in which there are(were) high rates of goiter and cretinism. Places in China, India, Pakistan. I'll bore you with all of it.

One interesting factoid people with these unsightly goiters often lived long, healthy lives... Tweet