Biography of Joseph Merrick (the elaphant man)

Mr. Joseph Merrick, aka the Elephant Man, was born on August 5th 1862, one year after the initiation of the American Civil War, in Leicestershire, Great Britain. His mother was slightly crippled but one brother, was normal. Apparently Joseph Merrick's development was also normal until about the age of two when small growths began to be noticed on his face, the first signs of a frightful disorder which would transform him into the "Elephant Man". By …

…since been buried), had allowed medical sleuths in the past, to take casts, photographs, caliper measurements, and X-rays of Mr. Merrick - aka the Elephant Man. Still, we may never conclusively know what he had suffered from since efforts in years past to preserve his skeleton for us, may have irreparably damaged any DNA forensic scientists could have used for incontrovertible proof. Indeed, some claim that perhaps Joseph Merrick had a unique disease... 'Merrick's Disease'.