Whom we call ‘idiot’ today, in former times was often called ‘cretin’ (derives from French ‘crétin’). People who suffered from cretinism were conspicuous in particularly severe manifestations by dwarfism, a deformed nose, thick tongue and sometimes also by pronounced imbecility.
Recognizing cretinism
Cretinism, by definition, is a developmental disorder that occurs due to a deficiency of thyroid hormones. Cretinism is nowadays eradicated in developed countries thanks to medical success and treatment. Hormone level examinations of newborns are part of everyday clinical practice in Germany. If hypothyroidism is detected, it must be treated immediately to prevent irreversible damage to the brain.
This so-called endemic cretinism, which can be caused by an iodine deficiency in pregnant women, is already triggered in the womb. Regular and timely intake of thyroid hormones in tablet form prevents the clinical picture and allows the child to develop normally.
Goiter and cretinism in iodine deficient areas.
The association of goiter, cretinism, and nutrition has been found to be particularly common in iodine-deficient areas, such as southern Germany. As late as the 19th century, the expression of this disease was also conspicuous in inhabitants of Swiss high-alpine regions. It is said that 90 percent of the population there suffered from goiter and up to 2 percent from cretinism.
This accumulation even found expression in painting as the so-called ‘alpine cretin’. The measure of using iodized table salt, which was prescribed in Switzerland from the beginning of the 20th century, had a pioneering character in the fight against this disease. A procedure that has found worldwide echo in the practice of healthy food preparation to this day.
