Medicine: Great Cyst at Burnips

There was nothing much wrong with stocky Mrs. Gertrude Levandowski, now 58, until her husband died ten years ago. Then she began to gain weight. She did her best to take care of her house outside the small town of Burnips, Mich. (pop. 250), but as she got fatter & fatter, housework became more difficult. When she reached nine feet in circumference, all she could do was sit on a strong chair, smile cheerfully and peel a few potatoes. Her son Charles, 17, took over the housework.

The local doctors looked grave and thoughtful....