"THE BRITTLE MAN."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6, 7 January 1914, Page 6

"THE BRITTLE MAN."

SHRANK TO DEATH. Having literally shrunk to death, Albert -Mills, known as "the brittle man," expired and was buried at Birmingham. For 26 years Mills had suffered from an obscure disease which caused' a shrinkage of bodily statute, and made him the object of study by medical men from all over the world.' Mills was 58. The disease was diagnosed as osteomalasia, and its chief symptom is the disappearance of lime from the body, leaving the bones soft and misshapen. Tt became impossible for him to move, and for over 14 years he was confined to his lied. Before his illness he was sft Bin. in height, but he gradually shrank until at the time of his death he was under 4ft. high,' having thus lost 20in. in 26 years. Mills was an engraver, and the first intimation of the disease was a stiffening of the muscles, which pre-: vented him using his arms freely. After a time this condition extended to the legs. Doctors who saw him confessed themselves baffled, and the hospitals could render no help. He was without pain, the increasing stiffness and constant shrinkage being the evidence of the progress of the malady. He remained cheery and philosophic to the end, and became a voracious reader.