Beckwith J B
Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA.
Am J Med Genet. 1998 Oct 2;79(4):238-48.
Vignettes of several stages in the evolution of present concepts of overgrowth and related syndromes are presented. The scientific study of this topic did not begin until the 18th century because of its delayed emergence from superstition and fallacy. Examples of early superstitions concerning gigantism are presented, with some historical comments on infant giants. The pioneering contributions of Isodore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire to the scientific analysis of overgrowth are emphasized. Details concerning the early history of the growth syndrome associated with the names of Wiedemann and Beckwith is presented, with emphasis on cases reported prior to ours.
本文展示了当前关于过度生长及相关综合征概念演变的几个阶段的缩影。由于该主题从迷信和谬误中脱胎较晚，对其的科学研究直到18世纪才开始。文中列举了早期关于巨人症的迷信例子，并对婴儿巨人进行了一些历史评论。强调了伊西多尔·杰弗里·圣伊莱尔对过度生长科学分析的开创性贡献。介绍了与维德曼和贝克威思名字相关的生长综合征的早期历史细节，重点是在我们的病例之前报道的病例。
