The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-17
DEGENERfTING BODY.
John n. Molnnsli u Suffering From Aero
mygaIia, a Rare and Mysterious Disease.

I
A medical case Of the greatest interest
was presented 10 a clinic at the New
York College OF Dentistry last week
4 when Or. +. y. Weise. one OF the medi-
/ cal stan. introduced John 81. MOlanski
| OF No. 10 Bayard street. who is suffer
/ ing from what is known Ia medical sci
| ence as acrOmygaiia. it Is regarded as
one OF the rarost and most mysterious
diseases to which human kind is sub
| Jcct.
Medical authorities differ as to the
exact nature Of tho disease, some be-
! lieving that IT is not really a disease,
but "a form OF physical atavism. or "A
! tendency 10 return 10 the original spe-
cics. or rcversion to the primitive type
OF man.
Molanski is undergoing a bodily meta
morphosis. His face Is gradually being
transformed from its natural appearance
INTO strong animal type. with protrud-
ing under jaw and Overhangns brows,
which 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 "a monkey. He
suffers no personal Inconvenience. and Is
daily engaged in his business of cracker
manufacturing at No. q Cherry street.
His disease, If 81 may be so called, Is
not contagious, being only a state of
rcfrOgressiOn
lt is not more than nine years ago
that acromygalia first made its appear
ance. ana was recognized. There are
only twenty cases on record, and that
Of Molansh is the only one now known
to be in existence.
il is only a short time ago that Mo-
iansN came under the care Of Or. Wcise,
Of tho New York College OF Dentistry,
and Of Or. Allan Starr, Of the New York
College Of Physicians and Surgeons.
Last week pr. Weise introduced him TO
Dis class at the college. ,MolansM there
spoke as follows.
81 am for.y-one years Of age and for
one year and a half have suffered from
general fecnlonoss. pain in my teeth, and
difficulty Of articulation. ] was well
until / was thirfv-five years Of age. when
7 began TO suffer pain aches in tho top
OF my head. AT first these attacks
came on about every four weeks. Then
they came on more frequently. drug
eist first treated me. and ] took his mcci-
cine for about two years. Then, my
headache becoming unbcarable. j went
10 q doctor. who gave me medicine to
stop the pain. In about two years 10
ceased 10 do me any good, and / lost
all hope.
my voice changed, and my features
altered. In the fan OF 1895 L went 10
another doctor. lie gave me medicine,
but my teeth soon began TO trouble me.
and I grew weaker. That winter went
to two other doctors, whose medicines
made me in. / spent a few weeks IN
q home. My teeth became so bad l was
advised TO so 10 o dentist, who did some
work for me, but my lower jaw became
misplaced, and between the difficulties Of
taking solid food. and performing proper
salvation. my stomach SUFFERS"
DIR. Weise then asked MOlansN 10
retire from the lccturc-rOOm. After he
had done so. the Doctor, informed the
students that they had just seen one
Of the strangost and most remarkable
Affections TO which human kind is SUBJ
jcct. MOlanski, he declared. was not
suffering from mental troubles alone, but
from a nervous disease that might pos
sibly result i'm paralysis.
Dr. Wcise later communicated the
facts Of Molanskfs peculiar case TO Dr.
Starr who examined him, and agreed
with Or. Wcise that the man is suffer
ing from acromygalia They decided TO |
treat him together, and study the dis |
ease.
Acromygalia was first recognized in |
1856 when Or. J.. Marie, OF Paris. dis |
covered it: hence. the name, MARES |
disease" tv which it is sometimes known. |
The German scientist Freund CLASSIFIED |
n as a disease Of development or re-
turn TO primitive form. Klebs, tho great |
lnatomist. agreed with this theory, but |
Professor Nirchow regards 1t as nor-
vous dicasc and # rs on this theory
hat DR.. Wcise and DR.. Starr are treat
ne Alolanski Under Freund's theory
here is no known method of treatment.
New York Herald.