In Meet the Elephant Man, a group of scientists set out to finally solve the mystery of what caused a disfigurement so extreme that it led its sufferer to worldwide infamy.
Although it is now believed that Joseph Merrick was a sufferer of the congenital disorder known as Proteus syndrome, the medically curious society of the Victorian period originally diagnosed their patient with Elephantiasis - a thickening of skin and tissue that leads to the dramatic swelling of the lower half of the body. With signs of the disease clearly present throughout Merrick's head and body, it was quickly apparent that this diagnosis was misinformed.
In an issue of the British Medical Journal (published 11 December 1886), Merrick's case is treated sympathetically, noting that his rejection from society had been 'acutely painful to his feelings'. Although a source of much bafflement, Merrick earned a great deal of respect from those who studied him. Frederick Treves, the doctor who discovered Merrick being displayed in the backroom of a penny gaff shop in Whitechapel, was the first to discover that Merrick's intellectual capabilities were not affected by his affliction (as was previously thought).
Merrick lived during a period of great change in Victorian attitudes, and greatly benefitted from the public's growing aversion to the freak shows that Merrick once featured in. This sympathy led to the opening of a fund for Merrick and secured his residency at the London Hospital. He also received numerous visitors, including the Princess of Wales, and was taken on outings to the countryside and the theatre.
After Merrick's sudden death in 1890, thought to be caused by his efforts to sleep lying down, Treves arranged for the mounting of Merrick's skeleton and took samples from the body with the intention to research the mystery of Merrick's ailment. The skeleton itself continues to be an investigative source and, in Meet the Elephant Man, will undergo tests to confirm the latest theory that Merrick's unique disfigurement was indeed due to Proteus syndrome.
Further reading:
History of Medicine at the Science Museum
Profile on Joseph Merrick and his condition by the Science Museum
British Medical Journal
Joseph Merrick discussed in the British Medical Journal
Proteus Syndrome Foundation UK
Support and information for those affected by Proteus syndrome
Proteus Family Network UK
The UK support group for people and families with Proteus syndrome and associated overgrowth conditions.
