Introduction
The life of Joseph Merrick has been an inspiration to many and the subject of numerous publications and dramatic works since his death in 1890. I aim to explore aspects of his physical, psychological, social and economic story to create a picture of "The Elephant Man".
Life
Joseph was born to Mary and Joseph Merrick on August 5th 1862 in Leicester. Although an 1890 article in the BMJ stated that it was almost certain Merrick was born with enlargements of bones of the skull, right arm and feet ¹, it appears this could not have been obvious at birth, since it is recorded that the first noticeable difference was picked up by his mother who appreciated swelling and hardening of his upper lip at the age of 21 months ¹, ², ³. A 1930 …show more content…
In August 1884 he started his new career as The Elephant Man-half man, half elephant ⁶. Whilst Merrick was being exhibited in London, his condition was brought to the attention of Dr. Frederick Treves who, fascinated by such a bizarre case, transferred him to London Medical Collage in disguise for further examination. On concluding his visit, Merrick returned to the show bearing Treves' calling card–the importance of which he only appreciated later ², ⁷.
Treves presented Merrick to the Pathological Society of London in 1884-an experience Merrick described as making him feel "like an animal in a cattle market" and he refused to participate in any more examinations ², ⁸. In all his years appearing in travelling shows as an exhibit, Merrick described his audiences as “treating him well” ⁵, so the process of presentation to the Pathological Society appeared to him even more degrading than being displayed to the general …show more content…
As additional abnormalities appeared, this diagnosis was rejected in favour of Neurofibromatosis ¹².
Affecting one in every 3000 live births, Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or Von Recklinghausen’s disease is an autosomal dominant disorder ¹⁴, ¹⁵. Mutation of a tumour-suppressor gene on chromosome 17 affects the production of neurofibromin resulting in the development of one or more neurofibromas ¹⁶. Tumours can develop within networks of nerves (plexiform neurofibroma) leading to gross thickening of the subcutaneous tissues. The NF1 gene is expressed in all cells, so can cause problems throughout the body ¹⁴.
Treves felt that Merrick's deformities fitted well with a diagnosis of NF. He recorded “numerous papillomata, thick roughened skin, multiple conspicuous bony/fleshy lumps and countless bone deformities” ⁸. “The clear lack of symmetry, presence of exostoses and concave depression in the left side of the palate” further supported the diagnosis ¹². However, not all the evidence suggested this:- NF1 sufferers often have spots on their skin (café au lait spots) and suffer from epilepsy, neither of which applied to Merrick ¹⁷. Absence of these components made people doubt the
The life of Joseph Merrick has been an inspiration to many and the subject of numerous publications and dramatic works since his death in 1890. I aim to explore aspects of his physical, psychological, social and economic story to create a picture of "The Elephant Man".
Life
Joseph was born to Mary and Joseph Merrick on August 5th 1862 in Leicester. Although an 1890 article in the BMJ stated that it was almost certain Merrick was born with enlargements of bones of the skull, right arm and feet ¹, it appears this could not have been obvious at birth, since it is recorded that the first noticeable difference was picked up by his mother who appreciated swelling and hardening of his upper lip at the age of 21 months ¹, ², ³. A 1930 …show more content…
In August 1884 he started his new career as The Elephant Man-half man, half elephant ⁶. Whilst Merrick was being exhibited in London, his condition was brought to the attention of Dr. Frederick Treves who, fascinated by such a bizarre case, transferred him to London Medical Collage in disguise for further examination. On concluding his visit, Merrick returned to the show bearing Treves' calling card–the importance of which he only appreciated later ², ⁷.
Treves presented Merrick to the Pathological Society of London in 1884-an experience Merrick described as making him feel "like an animal in a cattle market" and he refused to participate in any more examinations ², ⁸. In all his years appearing in travelling shows as an exhibit, Merrick described his audiences as “treating him well” ⁵, so the process of presentation to the Pathological Society appeared to him even more degrading than being displayed to the general …show more content…
As additional abnormalities appeared, this diagnosis was rejected in favour of Neurofibromatosis ¹².
Affecting one in every 3000 live births, Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) or Von Recklinghausen’s disease is an autosomal dominant disorder ¹⁴, ¹⁵. Mutation of a tumour-suppressor gene on chromosome 17 affects the production of neurofibromin resulting in the development of one or more neurofibromas ¹⁶. Tumours can develop within networks of nerves (plexiform neurofibroma) leading to gross thickening of the subcutaneous tissues. The NF1 gene is expressed in all cells, so can cause problems throughout the body ¹⁴.
Treves felt that Merrick's deformities fitted well with a diagnosis of NF. He recorded “numerous papillomata, thick roughened skin, multiple conspicuous bony/fleshy lumps and countless bone deformities” ⁸. “The clear lack of symmetry, presence of exostoses and concave depression in the left side of the palate” further supported the diagnosis ¹². However, not all the evidence suggested this:- NF1 sufferers often have spots on their skin (café au lait spots) and suffer from epilepsy, neither of which applied to Merrick ¹⁷. Absence of these components made people doubt the