On Sporadic Cretinism, Occurring in England

Abstract

Soxt years ago Dr. Hugh Nornrs, of South Pethertol in Somersetshire, showed that in a neighbouring village, Chiselborough, there prevailed endemically a disease analo- gous to the cretinism of Alpine countries, and, like it, frequently asotciated with goitre and deaf-mutism.1 From a communication with which I have been favoured by Dr. Norris it appears that "the cretins iin Chiselborough have now almost died out.Improved sanitary mfeasures, better food, better education, and greater contact with the outer world, together with fewer iitermtrriages," appear to have combined in eradicating the disease.Scattered examples of it, however, are still occasionally to be met with in the part 1 "Notice of a remarkable disease, analogous to Cretinism, existing in a small village in the Wgst of England."'The edicgl Timps,' 1847, xvii, p. 257,