Hutchinson
reports the history of a child born without extremities, probably
the result of intrauterine amputation. The flaps were healed at
the deltoid insertion and just below the groin. Pare says he saw
in Paris a man without arms, who by means of his head and neck
could crack a whip or hold an axe. He ate by means of his feet,
dealt and played cards, and threw dice with the same members,
exhibiting such dexterity that finally his companions refused to
play with him. He was proved to be a thief and a murderer and was
finally hanged at Gueldres. Pare also relates having seen a woman
in Paris who sewed, embroidered, and did other things with her
feet. Jansen speaks of a man in Spain, born without arms, who
could use his feet as well as most people use their arms. Schenck
and Lotichius give descriptions of armless people.
Hulke describes a child of four whose upper limbs were absent, a
small dimple only being in their place. He had free movement of
the shoulders in every direction. and could grasp objects between
his cheeks and his acromian process; the prehensile power of the
toes was well developed, as he could pick up a coin thrown to
him. A monster of the same conformation was the celebrated
painter, Ducornet, who was born at Lille on the 10th of January,
1806.
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