Concerning the condition of the intestines we should consider the chances of long life greater in those persons whose bowels act regularly and who are never constipated. Such persons are able to eliminate toxic products much better than those who are suffering from chronic constipation. The function of the intestines is powerfully influenced by the thyroid gland, chronic constipation being a typical symptom of all conditions in which this gland is degenerated, whereas in the opposite conditions, such as Graves’s disease (exophthalmic goiter), diarrhœa is common. By giving thyroid gland we can treat successfully those obstinate cases of constipation, which are based etiologically on such grounds. Besides the thyroid gland, the ovaries also influence, to a large extent, the intestines, constipation occurring, as a rule, in diseased conditions of the female sexual organs. Flatulency and distention of the bowels are very frequently met with in women with diseased thyroids or ovaries, and are due to an irritated condition of the nerves of the intestines. When examining the nervous system we must inquire for headaches, especially in the occipital region, migraines, and the previous occurrence of neuralgia, these being very frequent symptoms in persons with athyroidia or hypothyroidia. Most characteristic are alterations in the mental condition. Thus, memory for recent events may be gone. There may be apathy, with hesitation before every movement, such persons disliking to move about. They may sit indefinitely in the same position. As already mentioned in the chapter on the influences of the ductless glands upon the nervous system such people are frequently somnolent. Therefore we must inquire about the hours of sleep. Besides sleeping long, such persons are apt to awake in the night after dreams of a terrifying nature. Our diagnosis of a condition of athyroidia or hypothyroidia has often been helped, by inquiring whether such persons have seen little animals (rats or mice) creeping through the room while sitting quiet, or before going to sleep. Such a symptom has been described by Murray,[121] in his book on myxœdema, in the early stages of this disease; the mind being then so much altered that even manias of persecution and suicide may arise. Footnote 121: Murray: “Disease of the Thyroid Gland,” p. 72, London, 1901.