Changes

=== Medical speculation ===

=== Medical speculation ===

[[Image:Robert-wadlow.jpg|200px|thumb|Robert P. Wadlow of Alton, Illinois, who, at 8' 11.4" tall, was just 6 inches shorter than the Biblical height of Goliath.  The man standing next to him is his father.]]

[[Image:Robert-wadlow.jpg|200px|thumb|Robert P. Wadlow of Alton, Illinois, who, at 8' 11.4" tall, was just 6 inches shorter than the Biblical height of Goliath.  The man standing next to him is his father.]]

Goliath was almost certainly a [[giant]]. The question arises as to how he came to be one. Did he suffer from a [[medicine|medical]] condition? Modern [[doctor]]s have suggested that, if Goliath actually lived, then he suffered from a [[pituitary adenoma]] that over-produced the [[human growth hormone]] during his [[adolescence|adolescent]] years. This would indeed produce the disease called [[giantism]] today. Many such "pituitary giants" are known to medical science, and they generally have all their organs and bones, all in proper proportion to one another.

Goliath was almost certainly a [[giant]]. The question arises as to how he came to be one. Did he suffer from a [[medicine|medical]] condition? Modern [[doctor]]s have suggested that, if Goliath actually lived, then he suffered from a [[pituitary adenoma]] that over-produced the [[human growth hormone]] during his [[adolescence|adolescent]] years. This would indeed produce the disease called [[giantism]] today. Many such "pituitary giants" are known to medical science, and they generally have all their organs and bones, all in proper proportion to one another.<ref>The tallest man on record was [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]] (1918-1940) of [[Alton]], [[Illinois]]. He reached a height of 8 [[foot|feet]] and 11.1 [[inch]]es, or about the same height as Goliath. See [http://www.maniacworld.com/worlds_tallest_man.htm The World's Tallest Man] (retrieved May 29, 2007). Had he had muscles in proportion to his height and frame, he could easily have carried Goliath's armor as the Bible describes it.</ref>

But the speculation does not stop there. These same doctors speculate that the pituitary tumor grew to impinge upon the [[optic chiasm]] and cut off the signals that pass from each [[eye]] to the opposing [[occipital lobe]], which is the center for visual processing. Thus Goliath would have suffered [[bitemporal hemianopsia]], which produces "tunnel vision," and thus David would have been better able to approach him close enough to deliver a killing blow with his slingshot.<ref>Berginer, Vladimir M. [http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ar00sep-15.pdf Neurological Aspects of the David-Goliath Battle: Restriction in the Giant's Visual Field]. ''IMAJ'' 2000;2:725-727 (requires a PDF reader or plug-in)</ref>

But the speculation does not stop there. These same doctors speculate that the pituitary tumor grew to impinge upon the [[optic chiasm]] and cut off the signals that pass from each [[eye]] to the opposing [[occipital lobe]], which is the center for visual processing. Thus Goliath would have suffered [[bitemporal hemianopsia]], which produces "tunnel vision," and thus David would have been better able to approach him close enough to deliver a killing blow with his slingshot.<ref>Berginer, Vladimir M. [http://www.ima.org.il/imaj/ar00sep-15.pdf Neurological Aspects of the David-Goliath Battle: Restriction in the Giant's Visual Field]. ''IMAJ'' 2000;2:725-727 (requires a PDF reader or plug-in)</ref>