Annie Jones Elliot, better known as the “Bearded Lady”, was born in Marion, Virginia. Jones joined Barnum’s exhibition as a child of only nine months. By the age of five, Annie had a mustache and sideburns and became well known as the “Bearded Girl.”

In an incident which may have been one of Barnum’s publicity stunts, a man from New York kidnapped Jones when she was a young child. Barnum and the police found her as an exhibition in a church fair. When the man claimed the child as his, the matter when to court. The judge had Jones separated from the others before it was her time to testify. When the child was taken to the courtroom, she went straight to her parents when she saw them. The judge immediately declared the case closed.

As an adult, Jones became one of Barnum’s most prized acts and served as a spokesperson for the circus “Freaks”, a word she worked to abolish from the business.

James Hugh Murphy, better known as the “Colossal Irish Giant”, was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1842 and employed by P.T. Barnum in the 1860’s. Murphy stood at a height of 7 feet 3 inches but was advertised by Barnum at being over 8 feet tall. Murphy’s death at age 33 did not bring an end to the “Irish Giant” brand that he helped popularize in the United States, and soon many others took up his mantel – some even took up his name and identity – and toured with Barnum.

Barnum found continued success with another Irish Giant named George Parsons. Parsons was from Belfast and was 7 feet 11 inches. Barnum gave him the name “Patrick O’Brien” and hit upon a unique twist the standard giant spectacle when his Irish Giant married a German Giantess named Christina Dunz, who was said to be 7 feet 4 inches tall. Dunz assumed the identity of Irish Giantess named Annie O’Brien in Barnum’s show and the couple was marketed as the “Tallest Married Couple in the World.” The act further developed when the couple had a baby, Brian O’Brien, who was said to have been 20 pounds and 2 feet tall at birth! The Irish Giant Family became such a popular sensation in America they were even brought to the White House for a meeting with President Grover Cleveland.

Isaac W. Sprague, better known as “The Living Skeleton”, was born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Although normal for most of his childhood, Sprague began rapidly losing weight at the age of 12. The weight loss continued through his life despite having a healthy appetite. Sprague’s condition required him to constantly be taking in nutrients. His health was in such a poor state that he often carried milk in a flask around his neck. He would sip this from time to time to keep himself up and conscious. At the age of 44 he stood 5 feet and 6 inches tall and weighed only 43 pounds.

Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum was an American showman, politician,

philanthropist, and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated

hoaxes and human curiosities. He is best known as the founder of the

Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Fedor Adrianovich Jeftichew, better known as “Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy”, was a famous Russian sideshow performer who was brought to the United States by P.T. Barnum in 1884 at the age of sixteen. Fedor’s entire face and body were covered with hair. His father experienced the same condition. Barnum created a story that involved a hunter in Kostroma, Russia who tracked Fedor and his father to their cave and captured them. Barnum described Adrian as a savage who could not be civilized. Barnum made a point of stressing Fedor’s resemblance to a dog, and explained that when he was upset he would bark and growl. Fedor obliged by doing so during performances.

Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known by his stage name “General Tom Thumb”, achieved great fame as a performer in P.T. Barnum’s circus. Stratton was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to parents who were of medium height. He was a relatively large baby, weighing 9 pounds 8 ounces at birth, and developed normally for the first six months of his life when he suddenly stopped growing. His parents became concerned and brought him to their doctor after his first birthday and were told there was little chance Charles would ever reach a normal height. By late 1842 (4 years old), Stratton grew only one inch from when he was six months old. Apart from this, he was a completely normal, healthy child, with several siblings who were of average size.

At the age of 5, P.T. Barnum contacted Stratton’s parents and taught the boy how to sing, dance, mime, and impersonate famous people. His lively and entertaining performances made carnival shows some of the most favored forms of theatrical entertainment in the United States. Stratton’s fame grew at an astonishing rate, and his popularity and celebrity surpassed that of any actor within his lifetime.

Charles Stratton died unexpectedly from a stroke at the age of 45 at approximately 3 feet tall.

Teodulo Valenzuela, better known as the “World’s Heaviest Man” was born in Tempe, Arizona. With his weight over 600 pounds, Teo attracted a good deal of attention wherever he went. While vacationing in Long Beach, California, he had to request police attention to get relief from the crowds of curious onlookers. After several requests to go on exhibit, his big break came in 1924 when he joined the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. At this point he weighed 745 pounds and was considered to be the world’s largest man.

By his own account, Valenzuela did not eat large amounts of food and remained fairly active. Thorough medical examination found that his bodily functions worked correctly, and that he breathed freely. He was described as active and mentally alert, well-read, and with an excellent memory. He was fond of singing, and had a normal speaking voice which showed no signs of pressure on the lungs. Valenzuela gained 100 pounds in a single month and his bulk eventually made the

rigors of performing difficult and he could no longer continue. He died at the age of 39, surrounded by his family.

Name:

Background Information: The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce the hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, development, tissue function, reproduction, sleep, mood, and many other vital functions within the human body. Each gland and hormone of the endocrine system serves a specific purpose and even the smallest malfunction or imbalance can have a significant impact on an individual.

Objective: Complete the information below as an overview of the endocrine system and then read through the descriptions of the individuals on which characters from The Greatest Showman from were based. Select two case studies and use your textbook to research how

these conditions might have been related to the endocrine system.

Identify the major glands and organs of the endocrine system below – adrenal glands, thymus, pituitary gland, pancreas, pineal gland, thyroid & parathyroid glands, ovaries, testes, hypothalamus

What is a target cell?

How do “local hormone” secretions function differently than traditionally defined hormones?

Distinguish between endocrine and exocrine glands.

Patient Name –

Performance Name –

Patient Name –

Performance Name –

Patient Name –

Performance Name –

Describe the patient’s condition and symptoms:

Suspected GLAND(S) malfunctioned:

Suspected HORMONE(S) imbalanced:

Suspected diagnosis:

Actual gland(s), hormone(s), diagnosis:

Describe the patient’s condition and symptoms:

Suspected GLAND(S) malfunctioned:

Suspected HORMONE(S) imbalanced:

Suspected diagnosis:

Actual gland(s), hormone(s), diagnosis:

Describe the patient’s condition and symptoms:

Suspected GLAND(S) malfunctioned:

Suspected HORMONE(S) imbalanced:

Suspected diagnosis:

Actual gland(s), hormone(s), diagnosis:

Extension -

Select one of your case studies and do a little more research. Identify the modern treatments and medications available for this condition.

Identify at least two other “human curiosities” that might be a result of a homeostatic imbalance of the endocrine system?

Annie Jones Elliot, better known as the “Bearded Lady”

Diagnosis – Hirsutism (significant male hair growth on females)

Gland(s) – Adrenal and/or Ovary

Hormone – Increased levels of androgen hormones and testosterone

James Hugh Murphy and Patrick O’Brien, better known as the “Colossal Irish Giant”.

Diagnosis – Acromegaly/Gigantism

Gland – Anterior Pituitary Gland

Hormone – Over secretion of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Isaac W. Sprague, better known as the “Living Skeleton”.

Diagnosis – Hyperthyroidism

Gland – Thyroid

Hormone – Over secretion of Thyroxine

Fedor Adrianovich Jeftichew, better known as “Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy”

Diagnosis – Generalized Hypertrichosis, abnormal hair growth over entire body

Gland – Testes

Hormone – Over secretion of testosterone which stimulates hair growth on the face & body

Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known by his stage name “General Tom Thumb”

Diagnosis – Generalized Hypertrichosis, abnormal hair growth over entire body

Gland – Anterior Pituitary Gland

Hormone – Under secretion of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Teodulo Valenzuela, better known as the “World’s Heaviest Man”

Diagnosis – Hypothyroidism

Gland – Thyroid

Hormone – Under secretion of Thyroxine