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Tiny Tim, Dickens, Renal Disease, and Rickets

Tiny Tim, Dickens, Renal Disease, and Rickets Abstract Sir.—It is fitting that Lewis proposes that Charles Dickens' Tiny Tim was afflicted with renal disease,1 since a number of Dickensian characters have autobiographical attributes. Charles Dickens was reported to suffer much of his life from renal colic and may have died of kidney failure.2 The fact that he had "strokes" at a relatively young age suggests he also may have had the attendant hypertension of chronic renal failure. In addition, John Dickens, Charles' father, suffered from a form of kidney disease since his death was related to the removal of a bladder stone.2 Lewis speculates that Tiny Tim could have had distal RTA type 1, citing Dickens' descriptions of Tim's symptoms and considering the potential treatability of such an illness in 19th-century England. Other writers have suggested that poor Tim may have suffered from polio, tuberculosis of the hip, or pseudocoxalgia.3 While it is References 1. Lewis D. What was wrong with Tiny Tim? AJDC . 1992;146:1403-1407. 2. Doggart J. Dickens and the doctors: a centenary causerie . Practitioner . 1970;204:449-453. 3. Jones P. Dickens' literary children . Aust Paediatr J. 1972;8:233-245. 4. Markel H. Charles Dickens and the art of medicine . Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:408-411.Crossref 5. Holick M. Photosynthesis of vitamin D in the skin: effect of environmental and life-style variables . Federation Proc . 1987;46:1876-1882. 6. Wendestadt G. Cited by: Loomis W. Rickets. Sci Am. 1970;223:76-82. 7. Brimblecombe P. London air pollution, 1500-1900 . Atmos Environ . 1977;11:1157-1162.Crossref 8. Dickens C. The Old Curiosity Shop . London, England: JM Dent & Sons Ltd; 1977:326-327. 9. Hearn M, ed. The Annotated Christmas Carol . New York, NY: Avenel Books; 1976. 10. Raue CS. Diseases of Children . Philadelphia, Pa: Boericke & Tafel; 1906:572-583. 11. Osler W. The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892) . In: Classics of Medicine Series . Birmingham, Ala: Gryphon Editions Ltd; 1978: 307-312. 12. Dickens C. The Pickwick Papers . New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1988:604. 13. Freedman A. Dickens, Dombey, and diagnostics . Ann Intern Med. 1985;102:271.Crossref 14. Bergofsky E. A follow-up visit with Dr Dickens . Chest . 1991;100:820-822.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Tiny Tim, Dickens, Renal Disease, and Rickets

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References (10)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1993.02160320021010
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Sir.—It is fitting that Lewis proposes that Charles Dickens' Tiny Tim was afflicted with renal disease,1 since a number of Dickensian characters have autobiographical attributes. Charles Dickens was reported to suffer much of his life from renal colic and may have died of kidney failure.2 The fact that he had "strokes" at a relatively young age suggests he also may have had the attendant hypertension of chronic renal failure. In addition, John Dickens, Charles' father, suffered from a form of kidney disease since his death was related to the removal of a bladder stone.2 Lewis speculates that Tiny Tim could have had distal RTA type 1, citing Dickens' descriptions of Tim's symptoms and considering the potential treatability of such an illness in 19th-century England. Other writers have suggested that poor Tim may have suffered from polio, tuberculosis of the hip, or pseudocoxalgia.3 While it is References 1. Lewis D. What was wrong with Tiny Tim? AJDC . 1992;146:1403-1407. 2. Doggart J. Dickens and the doctors: a centenary causerie . Practitioner . 1970;204:449-453. 3. Jones P. Dickens' literary children . Aust Paediatr J. 1972;8:233-245. 4. Markel H. Charles Dickens and the art of medicine . Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:408-411.Crossref 5. Holick M. Photosynthesis of vitamin D in the skin: effect of environmental and life-style variables . Federation Proc . 1987;46:1876-1882. 6. Wendestadt G. Cited by: Loomis W. Rickets. Sci Am. 1970;223:76-82. 7. Brimblecombe P. London air pollution, 1500-1900 . Atmos Environ . 1977;11:1157-1162.Crossref 8. Dickens C. The Old Curiosity Shop . London, England: JM Dent & Sons Ltd; 1977:326-327. 9. Hearn M, ed. The Annotated Christmas Carol . New York, NY: Avenel Books; 1976. 10. Raue CS. Diseases of Children . Philadelphia, Pa: Boericke & Tafel; 1906:572-583. 11. Osler W. The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892) . In: Classics of Medicine Series . Birmingham, Ala: Gryphon Editions Ltd; 1978: 307-312. 12. Dickens C. The Pickwick Papers . New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc; 1988:604. 13. Freedman A. Dickens, Dombey, and diagnostics . Ann Intern Med. 1985;102:271.Crossref 14. Bergofsky E. A follow-up visit with Dr Dickens . Chest . 1991;100:820-822.Crossref

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of Children – American Medical Association

Published: Aug 1, 1993

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