February 8, 1941 (Saturday)

HENRY HAD RATHER A BAD DAY

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Henry had rather a

bad day — so sick and

nauseated all day.

Had a nervous chill

this A.M. — sleeping most

of time this P.M. and

early evening.

Rec'd a box of fruit

from L.A.S. delivered by

Floyd Flynn.

Dean staying all night.

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Henry is still not feeling all that well but Edna received a nice fruit basket and her grandson Dean is staying all night.

Henry's sister Jennie Pardee has been ill as well. She just returned home after a month-long stay in the hospital. I have had a few people inquire about her illness. While Edna noted in her journals that Jen had metabolism tests and an operation, she was no more specific than that. So, I did a little more digging and found a small news article

The Lowell Ledger for February 6, 1941 reported that Jennie Pardee was in Blodgett hospital recovering from a goiter operation.

I had my answer. Jen had a thyroidectomy for a Goiter.

Unlike today, news was not instantaneous in 1941. On the day this edition of the Ledger was published, Jennie actually came home from the hospital.

Before the 1920s, iodine deficiency was common in the Great Lakes, Appalachian, and Northwestern U.S. regions and in most of Canada. Prevention of iodine deficiency by the introduction of iodized salt has virtually eliminated iodine deficiency and the so-called “goiter belt” in these areas (1).

Michigan became the first state to sell iodized salt at grocery stores (2).

Morton Salt Company Ad Circa 1925

In 1922, David Murray Cowie, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan was working to address the goiter endemic. After reading a report from Switzerland about adding iodine to salt packages, Cowie spent two years meeting with salt manufacturers in Michigan explaining the medical and public health benefits of doing so. On May 1, 1924, the first boxes of iodized salt appeared on grocers’ shelves all over the state (3).