The curse of the goitre in Switzerland • Hacker News Board

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#51

Post by lostlogin » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:46 PM UTC

Shacklz wrote: post #19

catgary wrote: post #6

That was a fascinating read - there’s even a great villain in Eugene Bircher (not to get into politics, but he definitely seems to have trailblazer the “right wing populist attacks successful public health measures” strategy).

I always find it fascinating that we don't "anti-celebrate" such obvious failures in history more. I remember reading the original article of the author (linked in another comment in here) in German and I haven't ever heard of Bircher before. Peddling nonsense against better knowledge that causes this amount of suffering deserves ridicule in posterity. We shouldn't just celebrate those who do great things for humanit…

If be more in favour of anti-celebrating the bad idea than of pillorying the individual. Though there is the odd individual who needs more criticism.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#52

Post by hef19898 » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:46 PM UTC

throwaway8877 wrote: post #36

Shacklz wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always find it fascinating that we don't "anti-celebrate" such obvious failures in history more. I remember reading the original article of the author (linked in another comment in here) in German and I haven't ever heard of Bircher before. Peddling nonsense against better knowledge that causes this amount of suffering deserves ridicule in posterity. We shouldn't just celebrate those who do great things for humanit…

National shaming day.

I am affraid some people would take this and turn it into a day of celibration...

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#53

Post by oivey » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:46 PM UTC

mytailorisrich wrote: post #31

bombcar wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most processed food uses uniodized salt iirc, which is actually becoming a problem in parts of the USA where populations eat nothing but processed food.

My understanding is that in general there no need for supplements with a normal, balanced diet, especially with eggs, dairy products, grains, and others if iodine is naturally present in the environment. So if Switzerland imports a lot of those, raw, or in prepared/processed food, or even the animal feed for its hens and cows the Swiss today probably already get much more iodine in their diet than 100 years ago.

People have been struggling to get enough iodine for a hundred+ years. That’s why it’s added to salt. This isn’t a 21st century problem.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#54

Post by Vespasian » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:46 PM UTC

zwirbl wrote: post #20

attachedhead wrote: post #12

This seems to be a slightly shortened version of an earlier article by the same author. The swiss weekly magazine "Das Magazin" published a german translation of this longer version in 2019 [1]. It is an absolutely fascinating read. Since the article from OP is relatively short on images, the following are links to more images from the german article, with captions translated into english. Warning: images contain dep…

For German speakers there's also this 'Geschichten aus der Geschichte' Podcast episode on the matter which does a fairly good job telling the story IMO. https://www.geschichte.fm/archiv/gag368/

Can absolutely recommend that one.

A fascinating story overall and a reminder of just one of a number of everyday sicknesses we (as a society) have been able to overcome through science and understanding, despite the occasional step backwards.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#55

Post by unnamed76ri » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:48 PM UTC

I wonder if this was at least a factor in Switzerland remaining neutral in both world wars. If a significant portion of your military age men are unfit for military duty due to goiters, that would certainly affect your ability to conduct a war.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#56

Post by skrebbel » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:54 PM UTC

bill38 wrote: post #5

Goitre and cretinism was present in French Alps too.

Nothing in the article suggests it magically stopped at the border.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#57

Post by Vespasian » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:55 PM UTC

catgary wrote: post #6

That was a fascinating read - there’s even a great villain in Eugene Bircher (not to get into politics, but he definitely seems to have trailblazer the “right wing populist attacks successful public health measures” strategy).

It feels like occasional people have to be reminded of consequences.

Otherwise polio, measles and the like are still as dangerous as they ever were and are ready to make their big return if vaccination rates drop too much. I'm certain even small pox is lurking somewhere out there.

It seems like, unfortunately, humanities book of learned lessons gets reprinted in pain and suffering once in a while.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#58

Post by k33n » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:56 PM UTC

catgary wrote: post #6

That was a fascinating read - there’s even a great villain in Eugene Bircher (not to get into politics, but he definitely seems to have trailblazer the “right wing populist attacks successful public health measures” strategy).

[flagged]

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#59

Post by btbuildem » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:57 PM UTC

catgary wrote: post #6

That was a fascinating read - there’s even a great villain in Eugene Bircher (not to get into politics, but he definitely seems to have trailblazer the “right wing populist attacks successful public health measures” strategy).

That jumped out at me as well -- the parallels (and political alignments) are unmistakeable. We see the same today with the current plague.

Re: The curse of the goitre in Switzerland

#60

Post by btbuildem » Wed, Dec 27, 2023, 6:59 PM UTC

What an interesting read! Fascinating to see how the theory was conceived, tested, and put into practice -- and all that in the backdrop of other approaches, even with the spectre of iodine as a poison!