Joseph Merrick in the 1880s

July 21, 2003 - The Discovery Health Channel has united three distinguished medical researchers from three different continents in an attempt to put an end to the mystery of what really afflicted Joseph Merrick, notoriously known as the Elephant Man.

Through the analysis of ancient DNA, scientists will take viewers along on their journey to uncover the truth behind the legend in THE CURSE OF THE ELEPHANT MAN, premiering Wednesday, July 30 at 9 PM ET.

For the first time ever, scientists were incredibly successful in extracting DNA from Joseph Merrick's century-old hair and bone in their investigation of his condition.

In addition, descendants of the Elephant Man's family, many who didn't even know they were related to him, were reunited.

While it was considered that Merrick may have suffered from either type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF 1) or Proteus Syndrome, the DNA evidence did not conclusively prove that Merrick had either on its own or the two together. Based on published clinical features, cancer geneticists and other clinical geneticists believe that Merrick had at least Proteus syndrome.

Moreover, because NF 1 is more common, some in the program suggest another intriguing possibility - that the Elephant Man was tragically cursed with both debilitating diseases. The program gives viewers a sensitive and poignant inside look at these diseases and offers a strand of hope for people today who suffer from similar deformities and debilitations.

Most interestingly, THE CURSE OF THE ELEPHANT MAN will reveal images of what Merrick would have looked like had he not been burdened by his deformities. These images were developed with the use of relatives' facial templates and high-quality imaging equipment.


Joseph Merrick as he would have looked had he not suffered his
affliction. (Discovery)

Merrick, born in 1862 in the English city of Leicester, showed signs of deformity at the early age of five. By the time he reached his teenage years, Merrick was completely deformed and had been rejected by his community and even his own parents. For several years, Merrick joined a traveling circus. He became widely known for his role as a fairground freak until he met a surgeon who arranged his admission in the Royal London Hospital, where he ultimately died at the age of 27.

THE CURSE OF THE ELEPHANT MAN is produced for the Discovery Health Channel by NHNZ. Andrew Waterworth is the executive producer for NHNZ. Executive producer for the Discovery Health Channel is Mark Poertner. Executive in charge of production is Bob Reid.

Curse of The Elephant Man premieres Wednesday, July 30 at 9 PM ET on the Discovery Health Channel.

Discovery Health Channel - http://www.discovery.com/health


eXoNews

That was terrible, that he couldn't live like a normal person. People are very cruel, and terrified of what they don't understand.

i thought discovery health was all a about babies... didn't he die by trying to sleep like a normal person and get suffecated by his own head? well, something like that.

Um not wanting to be a stickler but Merrick most certainly did not suffer from NF1 or type 1 Neurofibromitosis . My eldest son suffers from this particular genetic disorder (NF1) having read everything I can get my hands on about it and living with it I count myself as an expert . I am going to put up a link for anyone interested in NF1 so that you can see that there are very few similarities between this and Proteus syndrome or what Josepf Merrick suffered from .

It took me a while but this site looks pretty good .Link


And before you all get carried away may child lives a healthy normal life just like 95% of NF1 sufferers . I do not mind questions on the topic but I do not like sympathy messages . As I said my child is fine and not an elephant man .

Kismit is right. Merrick did not have NF, as most people think.

Makes you appreciate things a little more, now doesn't it?

Jolly good show Shadeaux

How did he actually have to sleep to stay alive then? Did he have to sleep like he was sat in a chair or something?

Oh it is ok, i just saw the link on the above post! Sorry.

He slept sitting up with pillows behind his back. He bent his legs and rested his head on his knees. He always said to his friend at the hospital that he wanted to sleep like a normal person. It is believed that on the day he died, he attempted to accomplish this. The weight of his head probably dislocated his neck and subsequently caused asphyxiation.

I wonder if anyone got a chance to watch the program on 30 July? My cable provider doesn't carry Discovery Health channel.

im not so sure i think maybe he could have had both.I my self as do many others menbers of my family have NF 1 including my daughter who is very serverly afected she has many large plexifom fibromas which have caused disfigermentt ,she has surgery on sevral occassions to remove them but they can grow at a alarming rate. she to has to put up with stares and name calling let alone her illness,its a crual world (please note nf suffers its quite rare the way she has contracted nf i dont want to scare any one)

Welcome aboard Nessa , I hope your familly are well ... My son also has NF1 ,his was spontaneus neither my husband or myself have it . It is really nice to have someone on the forum who knows alot on the subject . Thank you very much for posting


Kismit

Hi kismit
Thanks for your repliy i hope you and you son are well its good to hear from some one who knows something about NF1, Its one of those conditions that not many people have herd of but it is one of the most common gentic disorders. MY Daughter has just had a three week stay in hospital due to her ongoing proublems and the doctors admittied them selfs that they could not answer all my queastions it is so frustraighting,feel free to e-mail me if you want Take Care, Nessa

Joseph merrick could not lie down straight because of his head but one night he tried and broke his neck thats how he died