25th May 2019, 11:39 PM
|
#7
|
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,940
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ariel
Jim,
The story of David and Goliath contains some fascinating hints of acromegaly in the latter.
His height was 6 cubits and a span, ~ 280cm ( ~ 9’ 2”) . That’s a mother of all gigantisms!
Now about the tumor:
If the tumor goes sideways, it affects nerves responsible for an eye movement. Thus , the afflicted person cannot move both eyes in a precisely coordinated fashion and develops double vision. And when and if it goes upward, the afflicted loses peripheral vision.
Goliath “ looked about” to find David, because he could see only a narrow field in front of him. For anything else he had to turn his eyes.
And here comes the punchline:
When he, looking sideways, finally located David approaching him with a shepherd’s staff, he said derisively: “Am I a dog that you are coming against me with sticks ( sic!) ?”
The point is , David carried only one stick:-)
Thus, the Bible tells us that Goliath had gigantism, loss of peripheral vision and double vision: he had a very big and invasive pituitary tumor producing GH
|
Now THAT is interesting! I always found bio-history or medical aspects of historical figures fascinating. Another case of the study of history and arms in tandem. Thank you!
|
|
|