The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-29
THE DEATH OF CRET|N
A Case Which Has Many Re-
markable Features.
THE MIND WAS A BLANK
The Head Grew to an Abnormal Size
While the Body Remained as in
Infancy-Lived TO an
Old Age.

There died in Butte Saturday one of
those rare members Of the human fam
fly described as %cretius. The case was
probably n of the mos, remarkable on
record. as the unfortunate being lived
to reach the adult age. dying at the
age Of % years, something very extra
ordinary in cretinism. as there are few
cases noted among scientific records on
the subject in which the cretin lived
10 the adult age. The name Of the fam
ily afflicted with the care OF this strange
specimen OF human deformity IL with
held out OF regard for their feelings.
Their af1iction was great enough dur
Ing The long years In which they gave
the unnatural offspring the tenderest
OF care and sheltered its unsightliness
from the gaze of other people, without
adding to IT by making their misfortune
public.
Cretinism IL defined by scientists as
an endemic idiocy OF which the charac-
~teristic is an arrested development Of
body az we'll as mind. Quoting a scien-
tifc work Oh the subject: "Generally
the cretin is deaf and dumb or able to
utter only a hoarse cry. He is indlf-
ferent to heat, cold. blows OF even the
most revolving odoTs. Some appear to
want intelligence altogether, and even
the power Of articulation. Others ac-
qulre the rudiments OF language and
are able to perform simple tasks. There
are, indeed. several distinct varieties of
cretinism which have been noticed.
. 1t is said, too, that the respira-
ton of cretins reaches only Is instead Of
the normal Is per minute. Many die very
young in epileptic commissions and sur
viysl to old age is extremely rare"
There is a mass of information avail
able on cretinism I'm It's various forms.
showing that II is confined to no particu-
lar country, climate. altitude or condi-
ton OF social life n except in some
form of goitre is not susceptible Of cure
or betterment by any human agency.
In this particular case the cretln was
born quite natural except as TO mind.
which was blank. AS 1t acquired age
the head grew to an abnormal size,
while there was an arrested develop
ment Of the whole Of the rest Of the
body, and when the adult age was
reached the head was larger than that
OF a large. full-grown man. The cretin
was a male. the body remaining as in
infancy; the body, limbs and organs
being no larger than those of a good
sized infant. At death the Cretin
weighed not more than 80 or IS pounds.
The head, IA stated, was eXtraordi-
in size and unusual of form, the
features being very repusive; the face
being almost animalish, with a fat nose,
thick tongue constantly ~protruding
from an i~l-shaped mouth. the lips being
thick and apparently greatly distorted.
There was absolutely no intelligence and
no articulation. the cretin being only
capable Of a screeChy ~utteranCe like that
Of some animal. In fact. when APP
preached by a stranger the cretin would
sometimes strike out with a sIdewise
motion Of the arm and give utterance
to an unearthly screeCh that was more
animal han human.
The unfortunate creature vas during
all the years Of its life. kept in a cradle,
tenderly cared for and carefully screen
ed from public view by the afflicted
parents, who were as deeply grieved at
its demise as though its death had not
been a real blessing.
The cretin would ave been an inter
and doubtless a helpful, study
for science could the parents have been
prevailed upon 10 %relinquish Its remains
that purpose.