Axiell Internet Server 6 | Details | Supernumerary lower limb.

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Actions	Supernumerary lower limb. Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberGC.13817 TitleSupernumerary lower limb. DescriptionSupernumerary lower limb. Removed by amputation from a male patient aged fifty years in 1948 by Ian Smillie. The extra limb had been assumed to be a tumour by Dr Liddell who had attended the birth in 1898, and he had recommended its immediate removal. The parents believed the abnormality to be a punishment by god for their sins, and had refused the operation and kept the child hidden away. He had not been allowed to attend school, but had taught himself to repair clocks and radios. After the death of his parents he lived with his elder brother and sister; when his sister died he worried about what would happen if his borther died before him. It was this that motivated him to seek medical intervention, and the limb was removed in the autumn of 1948. the limb grew out to the right of the midline of the gluteal region. The base of the limb was 17 inches in circumference, and the length of the limb plus foot was 17 inches. The foot is inverted and has five well formed toes with nails on, as well an extra toe without a nail growing from out of the first metatarsal. A scrotal sac with penis is also present. There was no testes. X-Ray showed the limb to have a rudimentary pubis and ischium, which articulated with a femur which formed a bony ankylosis with a curved tibia. There was no patella or fibula After amputation, the wound healed in 14 days and the patient was discharged a week later. He died three months later of a urinary infection Production date 1948 - 1948 Production periodTwentieth century Object nameLimbs, lower Object categoryAnatomical, specimen Dimensions container Height: 44.0 cm Width: 29.0 cm Depth: 25.0 cm

Object numberGC.13817

TitleSupernumerary lower limb.

DescriptionSupernumerary lower limb. Removed by amputation from a male patient aged fifty years in 1948 by Ian Smillie. The extra limb had been assumed to be a tumour by Dr Liddell who had attended the birth in 1898, and he had recommended its immediate removal. The parents believed the abnormality to be a punishment by god for their sins, and had refused the operation and kept the child hidden away. He had not been allowed to attend school, but had taught himself to repair clocks and radios. After the death of his parents he lived with his elder brother and sister; when his sister died he worried about what would happen if his borther died before him. It was this that motivated him to seek medical intervention, and the limb was removed in the autumn of 1948. the limb grew out to the right of the midline of the gluteal region. The base of the limb was 17 inches in circumference, and the length of the limb plus foot was 17 inches. The foot is inverted and has five well formed toes with nails on, as well an extra toe without a nail growing from out of the first metatarsal. A scrotal sac with penis is also present. There was no testes. X-Ray showed the limb to have a rudimentary pubis and ischium, which articulated with a femur which formed a bony ankylosis with a curved tibia. There was no patella or fibula After amputation, the wound healed in 14 days and the patient was discharged a week later. He died three months later of a urinary infection

Production date 1948 - 1948

Production periodTwentieth century

Object nameLimbs, lower

Object categoryAnatomical, specimen

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