The Curse of the Elephant Man

Joseph Merrick was born in Leicester, England in 1862. He appeared to be a normal, healthy child, until the age of five when deformities began to appear. After the death of his mother, the rest of his family disowned Joseph because of his disfigured condition, except for his Uncle Charles. The barber took his nephew in and looked after him when no one else would. Joseph believed that he was deformed when his pregnant mother was trampled by a circus elephant and in later years he became known as the ‘Elephant Man’ due to his hideous appearance.

At 21 years old Joseph Merrick joined Tom Norman’s freak show. His aim was to earn enough money to enable him to escape from the gawping crowds - these types of attractions were commonplace and the acts could make a substantial amount of money by displaying themselves to the public. After touring the country, Norman displayed Joseph in a shop window opposite the Royal London Hospital, a twist of fate that would change his life. When a hospital doctor called Frederick Treves saw Joseph, he gave him his card and told him to contact him if he was ever in need of help.

After travelling through France, Joseph returned to England in 1886, destitute and alone. The police rescued him from a screaming mob and he was taken to the Royal London Hospital after he produced Dr. Treves’s card. At this point Joseph simply moved from one freak show to another, as he became a live exhibit for the Pathological Society at the R.L.H. He hoped the doctors could help him, but they were unable to diagnose his disease and could offer no treatment.

Joseph did eventually find the peace he was seeking. Dr. Treves gave him a room at the hospital, filled with books and paintings, where he was undisturbed apart from visits from the wealthy and famous. He became quite a celebrity among the privileged classes, even the Prince and Princess of Wales paid him a visit. Joseph also enjoyed secret trips to the country where he delighted in his fascination with nature. He died peacefully at the hospital in 1890, aged 27.

Scientists now believe that Joseph’s deformities may have been caused by a combination of Neurofibromatosis (NF1) and Proteus Syndrome that affected his bones, skin and nervous system. There is a 1 in 3,000 chance of being born with NF1, but many people who have it will only experience ‘café au lait’ marks on their skin. Proteus Syndrome is much rarer and more serious and as yet there is no cure.