The article discusses eight individuals who were showcased in circus freak shows due to their unique physical conditions. These individuals include:
1. Joseph Merrick, known as the "Elephant Man," who had a congenital disease causing abnormal skin growth and bone development.
2. Millie Corbin, a woman with four legs, born to a mother with a rare condition called "diprosopus."
3. Simon Scelzi, a man with microcephaly, who was exhibited as a "girl" due to his androgynous appearance.
4. Chang and Eng, conjoined twins who were joined at the sternum and achieved great success in the circus.
5. Grady Stiles, known as the "Lobster Boy," who had a rare congenital malformation that affected his hands and feet.
6. General Tom Thumb, a dwarf who achieved great success in the circus and was married to a woman with a similar condition.
7. Pony Boy, a man with a rare condition called genu recurvatum, which caused his knees to bend backwards.
8. Johnny Eck, a man with sacral agenesis, a malformation that made it appear as though his body ended at the waist.
These individuals were often exploited and mistreated, but some, like General Tom Thumb and Pony Boy, achieved great success and lived long, fulfilling lives.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Joseph Merrick was a circus phenomenon known as the "Elephant Man" due to his rare condition.
2. Joseph Merrick was born in England in the 19th century and suffered from a congenital disease that caused abnormal growth of skin and excessive development of bones.
3. Merrick's condition led to the growth of tumors on his upper body, which made him resemble an elephant.
4. Merrick underwent surgery to remove the growths, but it did not improve his condition.
5. Merrick traveled with a fair promoter named Santos and became the main attraction of his circus.
6. Merrick's case was the first to be documented and inspired a 1980 film about his life and friendship with Doctor Frederick Treves.
7. Marley Corbin was a woman born in Texas, USA, known as the "Girl with Four Legs" due to a rare condition that caused her to have an extra hip and two small legs growing from her midsection.
8. Corbin's mother suffered from a condition that caused her to have an extra hip, which was passed down to her daughter.
9. Corbin's father exploited her condition for financial gain, showing her malformation to neighbors and charging admission.
10. Corbin joined the circus at the age of 13 and became a popular attraction.
11. Corbin got married at the age of 18 and retired from public life, but not before giving birth to four daughters and a son.
12. Grady Stiles Jr. was a circus performer known as the "Lobster Boy" due to a congenital malformation that caused his hands and feet to resemble lobster claws.
13. Stiles' condition was caused by a genetic disorder that affected his family for over 100 years.
14. Stiles developed a reputation for being aggressive and having a bad temper, which led to problems with his family and the law.
15. Stiles was attacked and killed by his wife's boyfriend in 1992.
16. Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined twins who developed their public life in England and the United States.
17. The twins were joined at the sternum and shared a liver, but were otherwise independent people with different personalities.
18. Chang and Eng married two different women and had 22 children between them.
19. General Tom Thumb was an American circus performer who suffered from dwarfism.
20. Thumb's real name was Charles Stratton, and he was born in 1838 in Connecticut, USA.
21. Thumb's condition allowed him to perform in theaters and freak shows, earning him enormous economic success.
22. Thumb married a woman who suffered from a similar condition, and their wedding reception was held at the White House during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.
23. Robert Wadlow was an American circus performer known as the "Pony Boy" due to a rare condition that caused his knees to bend backwards.
24. Wadlow's condition forced him to use crutches to move around and use his arms and hands.
25. Wadlow developed great strength in his upper body, which allowed him to work as a blacksmith and carpenter.
26. Wadlow joined the circus and worked for the Ringling Brothers traveling company for 36 years.
27. Johnny Eck was a famous circus performer known as the "Half Man" due to a rare condition that made it appear as though his body ended at the waist.
28. Eck's condition was caused by a malformation that made his legs and feet appear atrophied and tiny.
29. Eck was born with a twin brother who was perfectly normal, and the two performed together in a magic show.
30. Eck's brother pretended to be cut in half inside a box, and Eck would pretend to be the other half of his brother who had entered the box whole.