Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-29
A REMARKARLE CASE.
Death of a Young Nan From EIephnnti.
nsis.
cInelnnau Enoulrer. sept. Z.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. Z.
One of the most remarkable invalids
In the city, Joseph Baeclocco, died
yesterday morning, aged 10 years. The
cause of his death was elephantlasis.
From this complaint his right leg was
enlarged to "a fearful extent, and at the
calf was three feet four inches In
circumference. He was familiar TO
great many people of Cincinnati,
who had noticed him on the streets
and wondered at the enormous devel-
opment OF his limb. To such an extent
had the disease grown on him that
the boy weighed nearly three hum
bred pounds, AT least one.half OF this
weight being confined 10 the one limb.
IL is said he was the only victim Of the
disease on record IN this city. DIR, Au-
gust Ravogll, his physician,
who has attended him
for the last two years, called
yesterday with photographer TO have
portraits taken of the leg In different
positions for the benefit OF the medl.
cal fraternity, but the relatives posi-
lively declined. Though under such
terrible disadvantage, the boy al
ways managed 10 get about with ordi-
nary activity, could walk at rapid
gait enjoyed different sports, and was
In fact, too fond of exercise for his own
safety. Too much exercise a few days,
DR.. Ravogli says, produced iuflamma-
ton and fever which caused his death
When asked TO define what the di.
sease was, the doctor last night said TO
an Enquirer reporter: at Is very rare
In this country and Is indigenous TO
warm climates, such as Egypt, Africa,
Asia, India and Italy. j have seen IL
and treated It in clinics In the old
country. IL was known among the
anclents and for time record OF IL
was nearly lost. In the Middle ages
there was the elephantiasis OF
the Arabs and the elephant.
iasis OF the Greeks. The latter was
sort OF leprosy, and the same
names for the different diseases caused
a confusion In medical literature that
was very hard to unravel, and was
often most annoying. The enlarge
ment Is caused by the hyperthrophy
of the connective tissue of the skin,
and the primitive cause, tue origin OF
all the trouble, Is the lack of proper
circulation Of the blood. The enlarge
ment is caused by Inflammation OF the
| lymphatic vessels. About every
six months, or perhaps oflen.
| err, inflammation occurs and
the leg swells. When the fever goes
down the swelling still remains, and
thus the leg continues 10 grow larger
and larger. Cut In and you VIII iind
an enormous mass OF substance which
looks like lard. Squeeze this and a
fatty fluid is exuded which solldliies
when II comes together. The bone
develops with the swelling, and q
mass of bone forms, and the veins
and tissues all keep up with
the abnormal development,
Bacelocco might have lived
much longer, but he exercised toe
violently, and brought about iDfiam.
nation. Then the absorption Of the
lymphatic element fran the diseased
member into the system caused hi,
death, making IL 'Abrlnous ABSORB
ton. His foot was normal. The
swelling began ut his ankle, and con.
tinued TO the abdomen, being the
largest forty inehes) at his calf
The development began few
months after his birth. The epidermil
OF the patients leg was discolored and
mottled.H
The young man was brother o.
John Bacclocco, the well-known sa
loonist, and received every care ana
attention from his relatives, who were
unusually kind TO him on account o
his afiliciion. lie was bright. cheer
full boy. and complained very little.