Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-14
A STRANGE DISCOVERY.

tereSt was presented 70 cllnlc at Jne
New York College of Dentistry last
week, when DR.. F. D. Weise, one of
the medical staff, introduced John N.
Molanski, who is suffering from what
is known in medical science as aero
mygalia. 1t is regarded as one of the
rarest and most mysterious diseases
to which human kind is subject.
Medical authorities differ as to the
exact nature of the disease, some be-
lieving that it is not really disease,
but form of physical avatism, or q
tendency to return to the original spe-
cies, or a reversion to the primitive
type of man.
Molanski is undergoing a bodily
metamorphosis. His face is gradually
being transformed from its natural
appearance into strong animal type,
with protruding under jaw and over
hanging brows, which a heavy beard
and head of hair but partially conceal.
His hands and feet are growing longer
and larger, and are already taking on
the appearance of those of g monkey.
He suffers no personal inconvenience,
and is daily engaged in his business as
cracker manufacturer, at No. % Cher
ry street. His disease. if it may be SO
called, is not contagious, being only a
state of retrogression.
It is not more than nine years ago
that acromygalia made its appearance
and was recognized. There are only
twenty cases on record, and that of Mo-
lanski is the only one now known to be
in existence.
1t is only short time ago that Mo-
lsnski came under the care of DR..
Weise, of the New York College of
Dentistry, and of DR.. Allan Starr, of tie
New York College of Physicians and
Surgeons. Last week DR.. Weise intro
duced him to his class at the college.
Molauski there spoke as follows:
'.I am forty-one years Of age, and
for one year and a-half have suffered
from general feebleness, pain in my
teeth and difficulty of articulation. ]
was well until 1 was thirty-fve years
of age, when I began to suffer pain
aches in the top of my head. AT first
these attacks came on about every four
weeks. Then they came on more fire.
quently. A druggist first treated me,
and 1 took his medicine for about two
years. Then my headache becoming
unbearable, went to a doctor, who
gave me medicine to stop the pain. In
about two years it ceased to do me any
good and lost all hope.
"My voice changed and my features
Ill f,lI ~ 1904 want tc
another doctor. He gave me medicine
but my teeth soon began to trouble me
and grew weaker. That winter ]
went to two other doctors, whose med
icines made me i'll. l spent few weeks
in home. My teeth became 30 bad
I was advised to go to dentist, who
did some work for me, but my lower
jaw grew misplaced, and between the
difficulties of taking solid food and
performing proper salvation my stom-
ach suffers"
DR.. Weise then asked Molanski to
retire from the lecture room. After he
had done so the doctor informed the
students that they had just seen one of
the strangest and most remarkable
Affections to which human kind is sub
ject. Molanski, he declared was not
suffering from mental troubles alone,
but from nervous disease that might
possible result in paralysis.
DR.. Weise later communicated the
facts of Molsnski's peculiar case to DR.,
Starr, who examined him and agreed
with DR.. Weise that the man is suffer-
ing from acromyga]ia. They decided
to treat him together and study the
disease.
Acromygalia was first recognized in
1885, when DR.. P. Marie, of Paris, dis
covered it; hence the name of "Marle's
disease by which it is sometimes
known. The German scientist Freund
classified it as disease of development
or return to primitive form. Klebs,
the great anatomist, agreed with this
theory, but Professor Virchow regards
it as nervous disease, and it is on this
theory that DR.. Weise and DR.. Starr
are treating Molanski. Under Freund's
theory there is no known method of
treatment.-N. Y. Herald.