The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the literature dealing with the thyroid-parathyroid relationship and to present a few facts obtained by an analysis of over 550 determinations of the serum calcium in cases of disease of the thyroid gland. The work has been undertaken to determine, if possible, whether or not there is an actual antagonism between these two glands, as is believed by many authors. The practical value of such research lies in the fact that if such antagonism does exist, then the use of the active principle of the parathyroid glands, which can now be obtained, should be a useful adjunct in the treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism.
The parathyroid glands were first described by Remak1 in 1855, and later, by Virchow2 in 1863. The discovery of the parathyroid glands is rightly ascribed to Ivar Sandström3 who, in 1880, fully described them, and called