The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-08
A PENCHANT FOR PICKLES.
The Strange MaIady of Young
Girl That Battles the Physi-
clans.

clans.
One OF the strangest cases yet heard
Of in medical science, says the Cincin
natl Enquirer, and complete puzzle to
the most skilled physicians, is that of
young lady lately arrived in this city
from her home near Columbus. and
who is on visit to relatives at No. 161
Broadway. She is the daughter Of a
prominent Methodist minister, ard was
at one time the JOY and pride of a
happy household. At her urgent re-
cation, though anyone wishing to prove
so by calling at the above address.
The young lady is now in her 10th
year. From the time of her birth until
she was or 4 years of age she had
every appearance of being a very
healthy child, and was we'll developed
and active. At that time she acquired
great taste for pickles, and grew ex-
cessively fond of them, consuming
large quantities Soon after it was
noticed that her arms began to enlarge
rapidly, and continued to increase in
size, until they became a general
wonder, and people who saw her on the
streets were amazed. In consequence,
she became very sensitive, and remained
close at home. About this time acute
headaches, occasionally followed by
nervous manifestations, suggested to
her relatives and friends that possibly
she might be affected with the st. Vitus
dance. But, to the surprise of all. in
few months more, her stomach began
to increase in size and continued to en-
large, her waist becoming of such an
enormous girth as to be at least one
third larger than any other portion of
her body, and was a sight to witness.
Occasionally, after eating meal, she
would throw up her food; yet immedi-
ately she seemed as well as before, and
did not seem to experience any i'll
effects from this slight sickness. This
latter symptom grew more frequent,
however, until her stomach had at
tanned to such a degree of sensitiveness
that the sudden slamming of door or
quick start or fright produced instant
retching. Her appetite increased, but
the Fetching spells became more fire.
quent, and another wonderful feature
developed. The moment she had i'm
ished meal and risen from the table,
she would not only be taken i'll sud
denly as before, but the food just eaten
and thrown up had changed in the
short period to bright yellow color,
and became so extremely nauseous and
offensive that her relatives could
scarcely remain in the house. Still she
did not suffer any pain, but lost her
appetite, not eating to exceed three
ounces of food in a whole week, and did
not partake of any solid food, such as
meats, for months. Finally her diet
was confined to a single teacupful of
milk per day. and from 200 pounds in
weight she wasted away to only sixty
nine pounds, all the while cheerful and
free fiom pain, except occasionally a
violent Headache.
Over year ago, her appetite sud
denly returned, and for time she ate
fair meai, and gained considerably in
flesh. Suddenly her appetite vanished
again as quickly as before, and
she has had little desire for food since,
having almost completely tasted for the
past nine months, scarcely eating any
thing, so that her relatives and friends
are completely astonished, and can not
understand how she lives and walks
around the house, and even ventures
occasionally to take a walk upon the
streets for several squares. In three |
weeks her entire bill of fare was but |
six ounces of homemade beef tea. |
While in the city, during the past four
weeks, she has eaten only two small |
and two slices of bread, once in q while |
taking two or three strawberries or
dish of ice cream, the latter seeming to |
agree with her.
Six months ago another queer COM
plioation appeared in her case. A lump
appeared in her throat suddenly, al
most closing the passage, so that now
when she swallows food, she is COM
PEELED to give her neck peculiar sud-
den twist to make the food GO down.
In the morning her tongue has the ap-
pearance of hard, dry, burn d pieces of
leather, and she cannot speak or use
that organ until some member of the
family rubs the top of the tongue with
piece of cloth, unlimb sring the mem
Der of speech.
Physicians who have examined her
report that the interior of her stomach |
is as smooth as a piece of highly
polished glass, and her intestines hard
ened and caked in similar manner to
that of her tongue in the morning.
The young lady has been treated by a
large number of excellent physicians,
among whom are DR.. Thoman, of Bal
timore; DR.. Ames, Zanesville; DR..
Sylvester, Columbus; DR.. Horner,
Johnson, Pa; DR.. Thomas, Delaware,
and is now undergoing treatment at the
hands of skilful physician of this city.
She is a complete living parad K TO
them all, and not a single physician has
yet definitely decided upon name for
this single ailment.