St. Paul daily globe., 1894-08-19

now In her nineteenth year, but devel-
opment stopped both physically and
mentally when she was eight months
old. The case is one which has not
only puzzled medical scientists. but
others of profound skill.
Many conflicting theories have been
presented. The child at birth was an
unusually healthy and well-developed
baby. and for the first eight months she
showed signs of the usual development
In children. There was no lack of
growth, no lack of appetite or anything
else that could for q moment make
either the parents or any medical at
tendant doubt that the child was not
natural and normal IN all respects. In
deed, in health and appetite the little
one has never given any trouble. She
seems today, except in the matter of
eyesight, to enjoy all the senses.
Making the Discovery.
The first intimation that the family
ever had of the child's lack of develop
ment was when it reached the end of
the first year of its existence, when it
was noticed that the little one made no
h.
The mother on observing this at once
consulted several doctors. all of whom
made examinations. but failed to dis
cern anything pronounced in lack of
development. Some of them stated
that the little one would. in a few years,
or probably i'll few months, regain
what the mother thought was lack of
energy. Time went on and yet no i'm
pIovement took place IN the little ones
peculiar state.
In due time the child was baptized by
Rev. DR.. FitZmaurice at the old ST.
AEatha's Roman Catholic church. AS
the year 1877 drew to close the mother
became uneasy about the child. Drs.
Hughes, Prendergast, Baker. O'Neill,
Goodman and a host of others were
again and again consulted, but all failed
to come to any direct conclusion. Hos
pitfalls and doctors innumerable were
visited and consulted. but all to no
avail in giving the child renewed vigor.
Some doctors pronounced the child only
backward and bade the mother have
patience, assuring her that in due time
the little one would make up for lost
months. Even at the age of three years
one doctor said that the child would
rally, although he admitted the case
was puZZling.
still Baby at Four Years.
Mary Frances, at the age of three and
four years, showed no more signs of de-
yelopment than when she was baby of
eight months. The little one has ever
caused any trouble, never showed any
signs OF disease. but has in all these
eighteen years remained the same baby
she was when eight months old.
The only difference today in the
trh
DID, .and the baby of eight months is that
the head may be little larger and lips
little more prominent. She still sub
sists upun baby food. No stronger
sound proceeds from the lips of the
eighteen-year-o child today than when
she was eight months old. She has
never made any attempt 10 get on her
feet, and her arms and legs are just as
small and dimpled as when, in baby
hood, she prattled on her mothers
knee.
Everything possible has been done to
make the little one comfortable, and she
seems as happy and bright today as the
ordinary babe. She moves but little,
She is happy when she hears others
singing or playing around her, and will
then hum TO herself.
One of her eyes has partially given
way, and the child shows Il desire to use
the left eye more than the right one.
A Physicians State ment.
DIR. j. F. Prendergast, of Thirty
eighth and Spring Garden streets, who
has been one of the physicians attend
ing Mary, speaking of the case yester-
day, said: "It's one of the most marvel
Gus have ever seen or known. The
head shows the MOugolian type of
imbeciles. There is lack of
both mental and physical develop
ment, and the cause Is very OBJ
scure. 1t may have been due TO natal
influences, which did not show signs
until long after birth. or to shock after
wards. There may have been lack of
nutriment or simply a lack of de.
velopment of brain matter at or pre-
vious to birth. 1t might be due to an
accident after birth, as an injury to the
brain or spinal cord. Yet the parents
are not aware of any such injury. 1t
might be due to the lack of develop.
ment in the nerve centerS that control
growth and development, or it might be
hereditary. The latter cause, however,
is not indicated by the family history,
all the members having attained full
growth. 1t might be caused by dis
ease CT the brain after birth, or some
acute disease"