ALTHOUGH cretinism is primarily a problem of endocrinology, hypothyroidism developing early in life produces a number of physical, physiologic, and pharmacologic changes of interest to the dermatologist. Many of these abnormalities respond promptly to thyroid therapy, but others apparently involve degenerative changes and are permanent in character.
The material on which this paper is based consisted of eight sporadic cretins, two goitrous cretins, and four cases of childhood myxedema. In keeping with the usual sexual distribution, 11 patients were females and 3 males. Our youngest patient was 8 years old; the oldest was 47. Although 13 of the patients were white, with various European origins, the 14th was a Negro. All of the white patients were born in eastern Pennsylvania; the Negro girl was a native of South Carolina. Mentally, two were morons, five were imbeciles, and seven were idiots. All were patients at the Pennhurst State School for