Cretinism

A congenital condition caused by a lack of thyroid secretion which is characterized by arrested physical and mental development, dystrophy of the bones and soft parts, and lowered basal metabolism. The individual's skin is dry and the hair coarse, dry and brittle. Teeth erupt slowly and are of poor quality and irregularly placed. The tongue is large and apt to protrude from the mouth which constantly drools saliva. The cretin child is characteristically potbellied, swaybacked and prone to umbilical hernia.