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.  [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]], who was still growing at his death from a foot infection, stood nearly 9 feet tall and was otherwise healthy and even entertained as an occasional basketball player with local high school players.<ref>The tallest man on record was [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]] (1918-1940) of [[Alton]], [[Illinois]]. He reached a height of 8 [[Foot (length)|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>

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.  The tallest man on record was [[Robert Pershing Wadlow]] (1918-1940) of [[Alton]], [[Illinois]]. (See image at right.) Wadlow, who was still growing at his death from a foot infection, stood 8 [[Foot (length)|feet]] and 11.1 [[inch]]es tall and was otherwise healthy and even entertained as an occasional basketball player with local high school players.<ref>Authors unknown. [http://www.maniacworld.com/worlds_tallest_man.htm The World's Tallest Man]. Retrieved May 29, 2007.</ref> Had he been as muscular as he was tall, he would no doubt have been strong enough to carry Goliath's armor, even armor as heavy as the Bible describes.

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>