The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-01-14
LIKE AN ALLIGATOR.
The Strange Appearance of the Boy
from the Country.

can exceptionally rare and che OF
the most peculiar freaks of nature L
have ever heard of, said a prominent
gentleman TO a reporter yesterday,
s.can be seen at the free clinic at the
Prospect street hospital this after
noon. The reporter called at the
hospital, and was treated 10 very
strange sight After Cisposing OF
number of eases of an ordinary char
acter. there was brought into Tie room
4 bow nearly cured, but with skin al
most exactly like that of an alligator.
He is about years old. and lives with
his parents in the interior of the state.
His case was taken charge OF two
weeks ago. The boys father and
mother are healthful, with clear skins
and blonde complexions. The only
trace of hereditary disease in the faml-
w, so far as can be learned. is a sister
of the mother, who Is afflicted with
salt rheum. In giving a history OF the
patient and his odd ath elton to the
class of students, the doc;or stated that
at his birth the skin of the boy was
glossy, and within two weeks after
that time il became hard, cracked, and
thickened. Two weeks ago, when he
presented himself as clinic, his skin
bore a striking resemblance to that of
an alligator, his entire body, neck, and
ex.remities being covered with hard
scales of brownish character his
head was mass of scales. The child's
sister, who is 3 years of age, has al
WAYS been free from skin disease, but
his brother, who is year old, is SINH
larly afflicted, though not so severely.
The patient was cared for at the HUI
ron street hospital. The treatment
cons sted in packing the body and ex-
tremities in oatmeal and water for
twelve hours, and during the following
twelve hours in glycerine and water.
His scalp was poulticed with oatmeal.
These were continued until yesterday.
His diet for the past two weeks has
been nothing but bread and milk. The
scales disappeared yesterday, and, the
scalp being almost cured, the treat
ment was changed to enveloping the
body in cocoa butter. The change in
the condition of the skin during the
two weeks has been almost marvellous.
Icfithyosis, the name of the disease, is
so called because the skin of the pa
tent resembles that of a shark. In an
aggravated state it resembles that of
an alligator. 1t is genital malforma-
ton of the skin, consisting in a hyper
trophy of the deep layers of the skin
and an abnormal development Of the
epidermis, and together with altered
secretions form hard, dry, and black
ened scales and masses on the surface
of the body. These crack in the di-
rection of the lines of the skin so that
small lozenge-shaped plates are formed.
The secreting functions of the skin are
much impaired. 1t is always congeni-
tai and often hereditary. and is regard
ed as an incurable disease. 1t is met
with in, every possible degree OF severn
ty from simple congenital rough skin
20 that severe form with which the
BODY is more or less covered with a
black or horny case. Two brothers,
John and Richard Lambert, suffered to
such degree from this disease that
they became notorious. They exhibi-
ted themselves in Europe under the
name of porcupine men. Their entire
bodies were covered with horny scales;
the only parts not so affected were the
palms of the hands, the soles of the
feet, and the bulbs of the fingers. Their
father was subject to the same condi-
ton of the skin, while they have seven
sisters who were entirely free from it.
They were born free from the disease,
but it began TO make its appearance
about six weeks after birth.
If the child who inherits the malady
is fed naturally the disease is but lit
tie manifested during the first year OF
life. For then the skin is naturally
soft and elastic The most important
and striking feature of this disease is
the absence OF perspiration even in hot
weather. II is accompanied with in
tolerable itching. The garments and
bedclothes of patient are constantly
covered with numerous scales, which
are regeneraicd as soon as shed. In
cases of partial ichthyosis, the healthy
skin perspires freely while the affected
parts are perfectly dry Dr.. Living
remarked that he had a patient under
his care who was sufferiRg from mild
attack of this disease, and perspired
nowhere but on the scalp, and there
the excreton was very profuse, as i
to make up fordefective action Of the
other parts. lchthyosis is not regard
ed as a dangerous malady, yet it
might prove a serious addition TO kid
ney disease or bronchitis, by which
the patient would be deprived of the
valuable relief which is afforded to the
distressed organs by the functional
activity of the skin. Sometimes the
severest forms of this disease end soon.
er or later in general emaciation and
tuberculosis. Cleveland Leader,