810 PETEK BASSOE 



size, with long and straight extremities. Very instructive and interest- 

 ing is the study of the "Skoptzi," members of a cult originating in 

 Russia, many of whom emigrated to Roumania. They practiced cas- 

 tration on a large scale and have been described by a number of ob- 

 servers. 



Thus, Tandler and Grosz described two types one tall and thin, 

 the other fat and bloated, with broad pelvis and large fat deposits in the 

 buttocks, breasts, and in the regions of the trochanters and pubis. The 

 extremities are very long, while the head is small, with flattened occiput, 

 prominent superciliary ridges and enlarged sella turcica. The pelvis is 

 wide ; genu valgum is common. The epiphyseal lines remain open. The 

 hair on the head is thick but a growth of beard is lacking except that in 

 old persons there may be one, of the type: seen in old women. The larynx 

 is small without ossification of the cartilage. The thyroid is small but 

 the thymus may persist. Attempts have been made to attribute the 

 growth increase following castration directly to the gonad defect. The 

 favorable effect of castration in promoting osteogenesis in osteomalacia 

 has been recalled, as have observations of decreased urinary excretion of 

 phosphoric acid in castrated individuals. Sacchi's case of a child with 

 testicular tumor who reached a height of 143 cm. (4 ft. 6% in.) at nine 

 years has also been pointed to in this connection. However, the matter 

 is more complicated. Gushing points out that castration or de- 

 structive testicular disease in the preadolescent causes hypertrophy of 

 the hypophysis to the effect of which the abnormal growth is to be as- 

 cribed. 



Eunuchoidism. Eunuchoidism was first described by Griffith and 

 more precisely defined by Tandler and Grosz (&) (c) as a developmental 

 disorder from defect of the testicular interstitial glands, with faulty devel- 

 opment of the secondary sexual characteristics, abnormal persistence of 

 epiphyseal lines, and fat deposits like those of eunuchs. It has recently 

 been lucidly discussed by H. Fischer. The main physical characteristics, 

 according to him, are : Long extremities, small trunk, elongated skull, broad 

 malar bones, deep root of nose, marked lateral development of the lower 

 jaw, steep occiput, broad pelvis, genu valgum, abnormal persistence of 

 epiphyseal lines and of cranial sutures. Furthermore, underdeveloped 

 genital organs, fatty deposits on the chest, lower abdomen, pubis, pelvic 

 crest and outside of thighs. There is little hair on the face and body 

 while that on the head is thick and does not tend to fall out with age. 

 Fischer lays great stress on the disproportionate length of the extremities, 

 while cases with great adiposity usually belong in the hypophyseal group, 

 and those with marked skin changes and carious teeth in the group of 

 thyroid deficiency. 



Distribution of Growth Disturbance. G. Papillault lays down the 

 following rules for the build of the infantile giant : 



