Virey has examined a German dwarf of eight who was only 18 inches
tall, i.e., about the length of a newly-born infant. The parents
were of ordinary size, but had another child who was also a
dwarf.
There are two species of dwarfs, the first coming into the world
under normal conditions, but who in their infancy become
afflicted with a sudden arrest of development provoked by some
malady; the second are born very small, develop little, and are
really dwarfs from their birth; as a rule they are well
conformed, robust, and intelligent. These two species can be
distinguished by an important characteristic. The rachitic dwarfs
of the first class are incapable of perpetuating their species,
while those of the second category have proved more than once
their virility. A certain number of dwarfs have married with
women of normal height and have had several children, though this
is not, it is true, an indisputable proof of their generative
faculties; but we have instances in which dwarfs have married
dwarfs and had a family sometimes quite numerous. Robert Skinner
(25 inches) and Judith (26 inches), his wife, had 14 infants,
well formed, robust, and of normal height.
Celebrated Dwarfs.--Instances of some of the most celebrated
dwarfs will be cited with a short descriptive mention of points
of interest in their lives:--
Vladislas Cubitas, who was King of Poland in 1305, was a dwarf,
and was noted for his intelligence, courage, and as a good
soldier.
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