THE PITUITARY GLAND 21 



posterior but the anterior or glandular lobe that 

 is concerned (Schafer). 



CLINICAL RESULTS OF LESIONS OF THE 

 PITUITARY GLAND. 



It is well known that the somewhat rare diseases 

 acromegaly and gigantism, are generally but not 

 quite invariably associated with enlargement of 

 the pituitary gland, which has usually been a simple 

 overgrowth, although later adenoma or fibrosis may 

 have developed. Whether acromegaly or gigantism 

 will result appears to be principally a question of 

 the age at which symptoms commence. If they have 

 their onset before growth ceases, gigantism will 

 result. The skulls of most of the classical cases of 

 gigantism, including Patrick O'Byrne, Hunter's 

 famous giant, and Patrick Cotter, the Bristol giant, 

 have enormous sellae turcicae to accommodate the 

 enlarged pituitary gland. It is probable that giants 

 usually suffer from acromegaly as well. There are two 

 authentic casts preserved in Bristol of Patrick Cotter's 

 hand, one of which is much larger than the other, 

 indeed it is colossal, measuring 12 inches from wrist 

 to fingertips, whereas the earlier cast measures only 

 ii inches. His shoes, which are also preserved, are 

 15 inches long. It is therefore clear that although 

 he was 7 ft. 10 in. high, his hands and feet were large 

 out of all proportion, and that the hand rapidly 

 increased in size between the taking of the first and 

 second casts. The lower jaw was enormous, and out 

 of all relation to the rest of the skull.* 



* E. Fawcett, Jour. Royal Anthropological Institute, 1909, vol. 

 xxxix. p. 196. 



