Microstoma.--There are a few cases on record in which the mouth
has been so small or ill-defined as not to admit of alimentation.
Molliere knew an individual of forty whose mouth was the exact
size of a ten-centime piece.
Buchnerus records a case of congenital atresia of the mouth.
Cayley, Smith, Sourrouille, and Stankiewiez of Warsaw discuss
atresia of the mouth. Cancrum oris, scarlet fever, burns, scurvy,
etc., are occasional causes that have been mentioned, the atresia
in these instances taking place at any time of life.
Anomalies of the Lips.--The aboriginal tribes are particularly
noted for their large and thick lips, some of which people
consider enormous lips signs of adornment. Elephantiasis or other
pathologic hypertrophy of the labial tissues can produce
revolting deformity, such as is seen in Figure 100, representing
an individual who was exhibited several years ago in
Philadelphia. We have in English the expression, "pulling a long
lip." Its origin is said to date back to a semimythical hero of
King Arthur's time, who, "when sad at heart and melancholic,"
would let one of his lips drop below his waist, while he turned
the other up like a cap on his head.
Blot records a case of monstrous congenital hypertrophy of the
superior lip in an infant of eight months.
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