People Born With Crazy Mutations

BE AMAZED・2 minutes read

Joseph Merrick, Frederick Treves, Stephan Bibrowski, Krao Farini, Johnny Eck, Robert Wadlow, Liew Thow Lin, Slavisa Pajkic, Dede Koswara, Daniel Browning Smith, Tarrare, and examples of polydactylism are highlighted in this text, showcasing various rare medical conditions and unique abilities. These individuals faced challenges, exploitation, medical curiosity, and sometimes acceptance, creating a diverse spectrum of human experiences around physical differences.

Insights

  • Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man, had large growths on his body believed to be due to his mother's fright from an elephant, with his skeleton preserved for study after his death by Frederick Treves.
  • Various individuals, from Stephan Bibrowski to Tarrare, exhibited unique medical conditions like hypertrichosis, caudal regression syndrome, and extreme appetite, showcasing the diverse range of human experiences and abilities beyond the norm.

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Recent questions

  • What is Proteus Syndrome?

    A rare condition causing uneven bone, skin, and fat growth.

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Summary

00:00

"Unusual Medical Conditions and Unique Abilities"

  • Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, was born in 1862 in England and developed large grey growths on his body, believed to be caused by his mother's fright from a fairground elephant.
  • Merrick's condition was speculated to be Proteus Syndrome or neurofibromatosis, leading to uneven growth of bone, skin, and fat.
  • Frederick Treves, a medical professional, exhibited little sympathy for Merrick despite the movie's portrayal, and had Merrick's skeleton preserved for study after his death.
  • Stephan Bibrowski, born in 1890 in Poland, had hypertrichosis, causing golden hair to grow all over his body, and worked as a sideshow performer in America.
  • Krao Farini, another sideshow performer, toured as a "missing link" between humans and apes due to hypertrichosis, a condition that still impacts people today.
  • Johnny Eck, born in 1911 in Baltimore, had caudal regression syndrome, leading to no lower torso, and worked as a sideshow performer with his twin brother Robert.
  • Robert Wadlow, born in 1918 in Illinois, had acromegaly, causing him to grow to over 8 feet tall, and faced mobility issues that ultimately led to his death at 22 years old.
  • Liew Thow Lin, known as Mr. Magnet, discovered his ability to stick metal objects to his body due to extra sticky skin secreting high levels of sebum.
  • Liew performed charitable acts and even pulled a bus at age 78, showcasing his unique ability.
  • Slavisa Pajkic, also known as Biba Electricity, can withstand high voltages up to 20,000 volts, and uses his body to heat water and cook sausages, claiming to perform electrotherapy to cure patients.

12:53

Unusual Abilities and Medical Anomalies Explored

  • Slavisa's ability to touch live wires is theorized to be due to his use of a DC battery producing low voltage, allowing anyone to touch wires and power a light bulb.
  • Despite various records written about Slavisa, the official Guinness World Records website does not list any observed or documented records he has achieved.
  • Dede Koswara suffered from Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia, causing tree-like warts due to defective cell immunity and human papilloma virus infections.
  • Dede's condition worsened over the years, leading to him joining a freak show as "The Tree Man of Java" until Dr. Gaspari removed 13 pounds of growths in 2008.
  • Daniel Browning Smith, known as Rubber Boy, has Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, allowing him to perform incredible feats due to extreme joint and skin elasticity.
  • Tarrare, known for his enormous appetite, could eat anything, including live animals and inedible objects, leading to speculation about his medical condition.
  • Polydactylism, a condition causing extra fingers or toes, is more prevalent than expected, with examples like Gemma Arteton and a Chinese girl undergoing surgery to remove extra digits.
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