Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-07-31

of the feet is white and smooth as that
of a Trilby. Twelve and one-halt
inches is the length of each foot, the
about the ball being
fourteen inches.
When asked about herself, Mrs.
Hansen said ''It was about twelve
years ago noticed that my lower jaw
and tongue were growing larger. The
Jaws were so stiff that ] could not eat
without pain, and l consulted a physi
clan. He gave me some medicine, but
it did me no good. | tried number
of doctors, but none of them seemed to
know what allied Inc or to be able to
help me. In the meantime, my feet
and hands began to grow.
Most of the medical men thought |
had rheumatism and gave me remedies
for that disease. In short time was
unable to go about the house much and
finally / had to give up my homework
entirely. l was keeping house for my
father-in law. my husband having died
not many years after our marriage.
Eight years ago | obtained admission
10 tnt uOIUt WDClO thO uOOoOiS Pto
nounced my disease acromegaly. Ex'
cept for the pains in my limbs do not
suffer and when they trouble me the
doctor at once gives me something to
ease the aching.
g can move about my room land
about the halls in my wheel chair.
Last week, for the first time in six
years, l went out to spend the day
with friend. They wrapped me up
carefully, for l am very sensitive to
cold, and took me downstairs in my
chair. From it was lifted into the
carriage and rolled away as comforta-
bly, as you please. "No, l have no
recollection of any mem bers of my
family having been of abnormal size.
My father was an engineer. and came
to this country from Holstein, Ger
many After our marriage my hus-
band and l lived in New York until
his death. '
Acromegaly is not necessarily a
fatal disease, and the patient some
times lives out his allotted years almost
as comfortably as people of ordinary
stature. The most that science can
do is to allay the pains and re-oxygen-
ize the blood. She gets plenty of pure
air and sunshine, and plain wholesome
food. Here is an exapmle of what is
known as latitudinal growth, although
it is probable. had measurements been
taken twelve years ago. an increase in
height would have been noted.
Several cases Of acromegaly have
been heard of in New York in recent
years. Five or six years ago the village
of Sayville, l.. L., boosted of giant
almost seven feet tall, and developed
enormously in every way. He was re-
garded as local wonder. 1t was not
until New York physician. who had
had one such case, suspecting him to
be victim of the new and rare dis.
ease, went out to see him that the cause
of his rapid and wonderful growth was
discovered. An earlier case was that
of an English woman, who contracted
the disease while ON visit to this
country. In two years her foot grew
to require instead of a numbre a
number SHOE Powdered glass or
silica was prescribed for her. Soon
after her return home she died, her
illness extending only couple of
years. A remarkable feature of her
case was the growth of the lips, each
of them being three quarters of an inch
thick.
A Bolivian giant 6 feet inches
high is one of the interesting cases ON
record. The man was 80 years old
and weighed 800 pounds. He had an
enormous development of the frontal
and malar bones and his chest measured
so inches in circumference. He died
very suddenly, and at the autopsy his
brain was found to weigh 55 ounces
The pituitary gland was enlarged one
inch in diameter. This little ductless
gland, situated at the base of the brain,
is supposed to be in some way connected
with the disease. Many physicians
fancy its arrangement causes the all
ment.
1t seems TO be true that humanity
changes its illnesses as it does the cut
of its garments, and any new ailment
is apt to become fashionable Should
acromegaly ever attain this distinction
it will be no longer necessary for the
fair sex to apologize for the size of
their shoes, instead every woman wear
ing more than y shoe will claim to
be sufferer from 1.-THE new nervous
disorder, acromeagly. Thus science
ministers unto fashion.
IT gigaLtism is, after all, disease,
David should have been ashamed to
throw stones at the invalid Goliath;
the heroes of Jack of Beanstalk fame
deserved spanking. and Frederick
the Greats giant regiment included
collection of hopeless wrecks. 1t is
generally agreed that the modern pro-
fessional giants are instances of acrome-
galy. The victims are noticeable not
alone for their wonderful size, but on
account of the whiteness of their skin,
due to the lack of oxygen in the blood
and also ON account of a peculiar lam
guor.