El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-18
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 49,
i The largest~man ever born in

over seven feet; and the breath was
hardly out of his body when scientific
institutions IN various places began
to bid against each other for the pos
session thereof
A giant is worth a good deal OF
money dead. The Army Medical muse
UNI would have been delighted to OBJ
tain the skeleton of Turner, but could
not afford to enter the competition.
What will become of it eventually, no
body seems to know, but one may safe
ly predict that 1t will not enjoy the
privilege of Christian burial 1t is too
valuable.
Why 1t Is Valuable.
The reason why 1t is so valuable is
that it serves to illustrate one of the
most remarkable Of the phenomena of
ysiology-namely that of giant
ISM" which is now recognized as a
pathologic condition. Furthermore, the
extraordinary overgrowth Of the indi-
vidual thus afflicted is due to a disease
OF small gland, about the size of a
pea and somewhat oval in shape, which
is situated at the base of the brain.
1t is called by anatomists the "pitu-
itary body"
The London Giant.
In 1888 there died in London a very
remarkable giant named Charles
" OI1Ous NuO was SO ANXIOUS TO escape
post mortem exhibition as an anatom-
ical specimen that he left Instructions
to the effect that his body was to be
buried at sea- The cupidity of his heirs,
however, Overcame their respect for his
wishes, and, by the payment of $500,
the College of Surgeons was able to
secure possession of the skeleton,
which, prepared and mounted by Will
liam Hunter, the famous anatomist
may be seen to this day in the museum
Of that institution.
1t is said that, in life, no giant ever
created so great sensation as did
O'Brien, who was by actual measure
ment four inches above eight feet in
height He possessed enormous strength
and is described as having been clever
and shrewd-a very exceptional thing
in giants, who as a rule, are lacking
in intelligence. Nevertheless, he squan-
dered a fortune, which he made by eX-
hibiting himself in gluttony and in
temperance, and died before reaching
"a years of age
Giants Grow Any Time.
Perhaps the strangest fact in regard
to giantism is that one may become a
victim of 1t at almost any time of life.
Thus you or l.. without any seeming
cause, may start in tomorrow or next
year to become a giant. This, in fact,
was what actually happened not long
ago to a middleaged clergyman Of the
Church of England. Nothing appeared
to be the matter with him, but, to his
great surprise, he found that he was
obliged to buy gloves of a larger size
every time he purchased a new pair.
With his hats it was the same way.
Then his coats became too small for
him, and he outgreW all of his shoes.
Finally, he consulted a physician, and
was informed that he was suffering
from giantism.
If a human skull be examined, there
will be found, not far from the middle
of the bottom Of the brain box, a small
cavity, into which the end of a finger
may be thrust. This cavity, during the
lifetime OF the individual, is occupied
by the pituitary body''-a bit of struc-
ture half gland and half nerve-stuff,
about which science knows practically
except that it has Importantly
to do with growth. Apparently, it
forms a secretion which controls GER
tain functional activities. At all events,
in cases of giantism it is always either !
much shrunken or else greatly enlarged |
usually the latter.
Is Rare Disease.
Fortunately, giantism is an extreme1 |
~ rare disease. What causes the trou- /
BILE with the pituitary body" Is un |
known. Recovery is impossible. The
nalady progresses very slowly. and the +
His bodily strength gradually leaves !
him. however, and more or less mental /
weakness supervenes. Severe headaches
are a characteristic symptom
The fingers and toes are first to en- |
arge. Later on the hands become |
huge and spade shaped, and the feet |
likewise exhibit a tendency to grow. /
At the same time, the bones broaden, |
md the lower jaw becomes square and 1
massive. So symmetrical is this en- 1
argement of the jaw that the teeth /
ire widely separated without loosening. !
The head and the extremities exhibit !
he most striking over development, |
,ut the trunk and limbs join in the
general structural change, the Shout
ers greatly broadening. Usually the /
fps thicken, the lower lip tending to
,rotrude and turn down.
Giantism ordinarily attacks people in
alter adolescence, before they have at
aimed the full measure of their normal
growth. Thus it seems as if it were
mere continuation of such growth. |
When DR.. Hunter hung up the skeleton !
f the Irish giant, O'Brien, in the nu-
cum of the College of Surgeons, he
vas not at all aware that it was
Astrological specimen Only within |
cry recent years has it come to be
.nown that giants are victims of a
isease. But, such being the case. it is
ot surprising that they do not live
Ong Dr. Woods Hutchinson recently
-ot together some mortality figures
7hich showed that the average longev-
-y of these overgrown members of the
uman race is only % years.
Few Live to Old Age.
There is no record Of any giant in
lodern times who has lived longer than
5 years This relatively great age
as attained by Patrick Cotter, another
rish giant who made his appearance
OF long after the death of O'Brien. He
-as of about the same height as the
liter, but so thin and emaciated as to
,ok much taller. On one occasion,
lille staying at Bath, He greatly
-ightened a night watchman by walk
lg past and taking off the top Of a
-reet lamp, to light his pipe at the
anne This is only one of many stories
I'D of his pranks: Another time. at !
anquet he took out of his pocket the
LIBERATED dwarf, count Borulauskf, and !
It him on the table to the astonish-
emf of the assembled comnanv R11t