In gigantism the so-called "giant growth
of bones" is often congenital in character, and is unaccompanied
by inflammatory symptoms.
The deformities of the articulations may be congenital but in
most cases are acquired. When these are of extreme degree,
locomotion is effected in most curious ways. Ankylosis at
unnatural angles and even complete reversion of the joints has
been noticed. Pare gives a case of reversion, and of crooked
hands and feet; and Barlow speaks of a child of two and
three-quarter years with kyphosis, but mobility of the lumbar
region, which walked on its elbows and knees. The pathology of
this deformity is obscure, but there might have been malposition
in utero. Wilson presented a similar case before the Clinical
Society of London, in 1888. The "Camel-boy," exhibited some years
ago throughout the United States, had reversion of the joints,
which resembled those of quadrupeds. He walked on all fours, the
mode of progression resembling that of a camel.
Figure 216 represents Orloff, "the transparent man," an
exhibitionist, showing curious deformity of the long bones and
atrophy of the extremities. He derived his name from the
remarkable transparency of his deformed members to electric
light, due to porosity of the bones and deficiency of the
overlying tissues.
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