Lucia Zarate
Encyclopedia
Lucia Zarate was born in San Carlos, today the area encompassing the town of Ursulo Galvan, Veracruz, and settled on the Agostadero, now Cempoala
, Veracruz, Mexico. is the first person to have been identified with Majewski Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism
Type II. She was entered into the Guinness World Records
as the "lightest recorded adult", weighing 4.7 pounds (2.1 kg) at the age of 17. According to an 1894 article in Strand Magazine
, Zarate achieved her full growth by the age of one year. Her family home, Casa Grande
(Big House) is open to the public as a museum.
for her small stature. An 1876 factbook published by Oxford University discussed a visit to Zarate paid by several medical professionals, who could not certainly verify that she was twelve, but could ascertain through her dental development that she was at least six. At the time, her height was measured at 20 inches (51 Centimeters) tall and her calf was measured as 4 inches (101.6 mm) in circumference, 1 inches (25.4 mm) more than the thumb of an average adult man. She was with her parents at the time and found to be healthy and intelligent, able to speak some English along with her native Spanish.
She first worked as part of an act billed as the "Fairy Sisters", later partnering with Francis Joseph Flynn
(billed under the stage name "General Mite") to exhibit internationally. In 1889 she was billed in The Washington Post
as the "marvelous Mexican midget" and described as "a tiny but all powerful magnet to draw the public." When her circus train became stranded in snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1890, Zarate died of hypothermia
.
Cempoala
Cempoala or Zempoala is an important Mesoamerican archaeological site located in the Úrsulo Galván Municipality, in the state of Veracruz...
, Veracruz, Mexico. is the first person to have been identified with Majewski Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism
Primordial Dwarfism
Primordial dwarfism is a form of dwarfism that results in a smaller body size in all stages of life beginning from before birth. More specifically, primordial dwarfism is a diagnostic category including specific types of profoundly proportionate dwarfism, in which individuals are extremely small...
Type II. She was entered into the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
as the "lightest recorded adult", weighing 4.7 pounds (2.1 kg) at the age of 17. According to an 1894 article in Strand Magazine
Strand Magazine
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine composed of fictional stories and factual articles founded by George Newnes. It was first published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950 running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890.Its immediate...
, Zarate achieved her full growth by the age of one year. Her family home, Casa Grande
Casa Grande (Museum)
Casa Grande is located in Cempoala, Veracruz, México. Begun build about 1877 to 1880, being the owners Mr. Fermin Zarate and Mrs. Tomasa Licona de Zarate, parents of the world famous dwarf Manuel and Lucia Zarate Casa Grande (literally "Big House") is located in Cempoala, Veracruz, México. Begun...
(Big House) is open to the public as a museum.
Career
At the age of twelve, Zarate moved from her native Mexico to the United States, where she was exhibitedFreak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
for her small stature. An 1876 factbook published by Oxford University discussed a visit to Zarate paid by several medical professionals, who could not certainly verify that she was twelve, but could ascertain through her dental development that she was at least six. At the time, her height was measured at 20 inches (51 Centimeters) tall and her calf was measured as 4 inches (101.6 mm) in circumference, 1 inches (25.4 mm) more than the thumb of an average adult man. She was with her parents at the time and found to be healthy and intelligent, able to speak some English along with her native Spanish.
She first worked as part of an act billed as the "Fairy Sisters", later partnering with Francis Joseph Flynn
Francis Joseph Flynn
Francis Joseph Flynn , better known as General Mite, was an American little person who performed as a showman at various competitions around the world....
(billed under the stage name "General Mite") to exhibit internationally. In 1889 she was billed in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
as the "marvelous Mexican midget" and described as "a tiny but all powerful magnet to draw the public." When her circus train became stranded in snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1890, Zarate died of hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
.
External links
- Sideshow world Article with a photo of Zarate