Absence of the Limbs.--Those persons born without limbs are
either the subjects of intrauterine amputation or of embryonic
malformation. Probably the most celebrated of this class was Marc
Cazotte, otherwise known as "Pepin," who died in Paris in the
last century at the age of sixty-two of a chronic intestinal
disorder. He had no arms, legs, or scrotum, but from very jutting
shoulders on each side were well-formed hands. His abdomen ended
in a flattened buttock with badly-formed feet attached. He was
exhibited before the public and was celebrated for his dexterity.
He performed nearly all the necessary actions, exhibited
skilfulness in all his movements, and was credited with the
ability of coitus. He was quite intellectual, being able to write
in several languages. His skeleton is preserved in the Musee
Dupuytren. Flachsland speaks of a woman who three times had borne
children without arms and legs. Hastings describes a living child
born without any traces of arms or legs. Garlick has seen a child
with neither upper nor lower extremities. In place of them were
short stumps three or four inches long, closely resembling the
ordinary stumps after amputation. The head, chest, body, and male
genitals were well formed, and the child survived.
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