I have always loved his work. Been following it for awhile now. I've seen some of it up close before and I believe he once dropped me an email on the subject of conjoined twins over at www.thehumanmarvels.com

He deserves as much promotion as he can get.

Just wanted to thank you for posting my article. We've just revamped the design over at www.thehumanmarvels.com and I appreciate the hat tip.

Part two of this article should be posted in the next week.

Thanks again,

J. Tithonus Pednaud

Mandy Sellars was documented some time ago in a TLC special I consulted on. At that time her condition was undiagnosed and I must say that I am surprised by the Proteus positive result. Her deformity is not really typical of the condition and I was quite confident she suffered from Milroy’s Disease as Fanny Mills before her.

Now I wonder if Fanny's diagnosis should be reconsidered.
http://thehumanmarvels.com/blog/?p=42

Also, watch out for Drop Bears.

I wrote an article, which has since shown up and referenced everywhere, regarding the specifics of Oliver last year.

http://www.thehumanmarvels.com/2007/09/oliver-humanzee.html

His handler contacted me at the time to inform me that Oliver is currently housed by Primarily Primates. He is close to sixty years old and, while he did suffer a mild stroke a couple years back, he is pretty good shape for a retired bloke.

A current photo can be viewed at the bottom of:
http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2008/april/chimpanzees-awash-in.html

Some factual errors, but most simply due to often repeated incorrect original source material. However, a big error here is the fact that Lazarus Colloredo and Joannes Baptista Colloredo were not conjoined twins. Their case is an example of parasitic twinning.

Also, considering Siam no longer exists, the term 'Siamese Twin' is not only politically incorrect and medically inappropriate, it's now also a physical impossibility.

Bean,

Your use the term 'micromidget' pretty much discredits your opinions regarding Pauline's intellectual development and dancing skills. Furthermore, little people are admirable in many big ways.

While she was no doubt a charming and cute young lady, the suitors were likely seeing dollar signs rather than physical adoration.

I've seen this story floating around for awhile now, but I think it's time to set a few things straight.

Jyoti Amge is not 'The Smallest Girl in the World', as the blogosphere reports.

The original article indicates she is the smallest girl in India. But even that is highly suspect. At 35 inches in height, she is already taller than most adult primordial dwarfs. Typically, and historically, little people with achondroplasia are not the smallest of people.

The use of the word 'girl' is also misleading and in no way official. Official records pertaining to height are not made until adulthood. One could easily claim the a newborn baby girl is 'The Smallest GIRL in the World.

If we are going by 'girl', I can think of five young ladies smaller than Jyoti Amge, right off the top of my head. Kenadie Jourdin-Bromley immediately comes to mind. She was featured on Neatorama some time ago.

http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/17/the-littlest-angel/

It's likely that the 'tiny title' was used in one article to generate interest and it is now being repeated as fact,. She is not the smallest girl in the world, but is still a remarkable human being.

As the resident teratologist here at Neatorama, I just wanted to point out a couple of things out here.

First, these are indeed conjoined twins, specifically the condition is often referred to as Janus Syndrome by laypersons. This 'Janus' condition may be a form of conjoined twin where the fertilised egg does not completely split in half. But more recently, it has been attributed to disrupted embryo growth due to a protein called "sonic hedgehog" which causes excessive widening of the face.

This condition is not the same as having two sentient heads. It is likely that is is a case of a parasitic twining - one face being functional, the other being capable of rudimentary movement.

Such twining has occurred before and has entered pop culture. Tom Waits's Poor Edward is based on a similar account:

http://www.thehumanmarvels.com/2006/11/from-archives-edward-mordake-poor.html

The infant could survive into adulthood. Chinese Chang Tzu Ping survived well into adulthood.

As for how common birth defects are globally, well, we are all mutations of an ideal. But the last figures I saw indicated that roughly 3% of all infant born are born with a recognizable defect. Of those 1% are 'serious' and of that 1% roughly one third survive for more than a year.

Actually, a couple have. But most just go straight to tattooing like Enigma or Lucky Diamond Rich (who is purple).

It's important to note, also, that one can get silver poisoning.

If this condition was not adverse to his health, then why the hell should he change his appearance. To not offend your sensitive ideals?

Really, the fact that this gentleman did not seek medical treatment until now is actually quite commendable and shows strong dedication to his religious beliefs.

I doubt many of us would be willing to do the same for the sake of our religion.

Wasn't she on American Idol?

Actually, I think a general lack of accessible health care may be the reason.

He has a hand, it's just hidden by the grass.