Originally published in Terrific Register (Sherwood, Jones, and Co.; 1825) vol.2.
Claude Ambrose Seurat (now exhibiting in London) is a native of the city of Troyes, in Champaigne in France; he was born on the 10th of April, 1798, and has consequently completed his seven-and-twentieth year. His mother, who has been dead for some time, was of small stature, rather lusty than otherwise, and particularly near-sighted; which circumstance tended to preclude the idea of any object of a disgusting nature having met her observation during the period of pregnancy. The fact is, according to the statement of the father, (who has been incessantly asked the same question,) that no circumstance of such a nature ever occurred to produce any deformity in his late wife's offspring.
We have been the more particular in noticing that fact, as many of the diurnal prints have asserted that his mother had been frightened when far gone in her pregnancy, by the appearance of a skeleton in the house of a medical gentleman. On being delivered of her son, the infant proved a fine child, particularly handsome in the face, and, as he grew, displayed every symptom of a gentle and yielding temperament of mind.
However, with increase of size, Seurat first began to display symptoms of bodily wasting, which the medical persons who saw the child attributed to many usual causes, constantly observing, that there was no doubt but he would ultimately acquire flesh, and become a thriving boy, as there existed no apparent reasons for gain otherwise. Contrary to such. calculation, the substance of the child continued to dwindle in proportion to his increase of stature, which regularly proved the case until he had terminated growing, presenting the extraordinary form he now wears, having attained the height of five feet seven inches and half.
A few months back the continental journals, and in particular the newspers of France, contained various statements respecting the existence of a human being, whom they designated by the title of "Le Squelette vivant," or the Living Skeleton. Those reports for a time gained credit, but on enquiry being made, respecting the name, residence, or even the precise country of the object in question, and no satisfactory information being obtained, the whole was at length set down as a mere joke, purposely disseminated to raise the laugh against popular credulity, as proved the case in regard to the Parisian lady with a death's head. In this manner all credence, as regarded the Living Skeleton, gradually died away, and scarcely any farther attention was made of the object in question.
As some persons, however, are not so easily prompted to relinquish as idea which has once taken possession of the mind, a gentleman of independent fortune, of the name of Williams, a major in the English service, as we are given to understand, either possessing some information of a more conclusive nature, or urged by curiosity, resolved to discover the residence of this wonderful phenomenon.
Without delay, Major Williams commenced his reconnoitring expedition and at length succeeded, after experiencing frequent disappointments, in tracing this wonderful being to a small town in the province of Champaigne in France. Having easily obtained access to the father of the skeleton, and on inspection of the son being naturally struck by such an extraordinary human nature, he began to make numerous enquiries, from which he was given to understand, that several physicians of the French provinces had seen the young man, but in consequence of their harsh treatment, of his delicate frame, by squeezing, pressing, and even pinching him in different parts of the body, to ascertain the effects thereby produced upon him, he imbibed such a distaste for French practitioners, that he would no longer admit then to an examination of his person.
In more instances than one, it appears the father was offered large sums for the purchase of the body of the phenomenon, in case of his death, and in particular, a medical practitioner of Burgundy proposed to the father to name any sum he thought fit, agreeing to subscribe to such unlimited terms; but the parent, who felt impressed with sentiments honorable to humanity, refused that lucrative proposal, as he had done every other of a similar nature, being resolved that the body of his offspring should, it he possessed the means, be removed, and consigned to the burial place of his native city.
Such was the situation of affairs, when Major Williams proposed to the parent the conveying his son, himself, and his wife, to England (the latter being mother-in-law of the prodigy under review); coupling that offer with such terms as proved the liberality of the gentleman in question, who, far from seeking to realize any beneficial pecuniary speculation as regards himself, is, it appears, only anxious to assist the family, and make Eng the depository of a sport of nature hitherto unparalleled in the history of the world.
Such an unexpected offer was eagerly embraced by the family, when another impediment arose that seemed likely to frustrate the views of Major Williams; for although, as previously observed, many French practitioners in the provinces had visited the youth, no regular communication had been made to the Ecole de Medicine (the School of Medicine) of Paris, respecting his existence; and it was consequently apprehended, that the jealousy of that learned body would be awakened, in case it ascertained that the removal of such a wonder was on the point of taking place, particularly to the shores of England.
The apprehension, therefore which arose was this; that the body of Parisian practitioners, on making application to the proper authorities, would procure an order for no passport being granted to the family, which proceeding would, without doubt, have been put into effect, had not every precaution been adopted to render the departure of the living skeleton as secret as possible.—On their way to England, however, the requisite credentials being procured, and no impediments apprehended, added to which, no further delays were to take place in the journey than the health of the subject of this memoir required, he was visited by the public at Rouen, and in the course of a few hours, no less than fifteen hundred persons repaired to contemplate the skeleton, so great was the curiosity evinced in the capital of Normandy, to behold that living prodigy. The number in question would soon have doubled, had not the son's exhaustion obliged the father to refuse admittance to any further applicants.
Considering the emaciated state of this phenomenon, and his having been to perform long journeys, much apprehension was entertained as to bis removal, and particularly the crossing the channel. He, however, sustained the whole without being much incommoded, and sailed to Brighton, where he landed upon the pier on Thursday evening, the 14th of July, 1825. When news of the arrival of a living skeleton being quickly bruited abroad, thousands assembled on the strand to witness his disembarkation; but as the populace was told by his conductors, that the personage in question had been miraculously cured of the plague, the affrighted and credulous concourse gladly made way, fearful lest any latent germs of the infection might remain, and its pestilential effects be communicated to any of the bye-standers.
Such were briefly the facts relating to this individual and his family previous to their arrival in England. As he is now exhibiting in London, we are enabled from actual inspection of his person, to give our readers a circumstantial detail of his person, manners, habits, &c. as collected from the most scrutinizing observation of his whole structure, being also the result of the numerous questionings proposed to himself and his father; to all of which the most frank and explicit answers have uniformly been given.
There is little doubt but different impressions may be formed upon the minds of persons on first contemplating the "Living Skeleton." Speaking for ourselves, we can only state that a sensation of awe impressed us on entering the exhibition room, the phenomenon presented himself in an erect posture, and naked, with the exception of a short silk apron fixed round the loins; the same being constructed with holes on either side, through which the hip bones. protruded, serving to hitch the drapery upon and secure it from falling off.
The head of Seurat was amply covered with hair of dark brown colour, all of which, it appears, has been shaved off for the purpose of exposing the formation of the skull to the scrutiny of scientific observers; he is therefore at present provided with a wig of the same colour in order to guard against the effects of cold, when not called to bare the cranium. In regard of the construction of the back part of the head, the cranium appears defective in the intellectual organs; there is a flatness in the posterior part of the head, denominated by the disciples of Spurzheim, philo-progenitivenees, is altogether wanting; the ears are perfectly formed, and the organs of hearing free from any defect. The forehead is neither particularly high, or otherwise; and the eye-brows are full and arched. The eye is large and prominent, the pupil of a dark hazel, and the white very
clear, the upper lids, however, incline somewhat downwards, which is most probably owing to laxity in the muscular powers of those parts.
Upon an attentive observation of the eyes of Seurat, the spectator experiences a kind of inexpressible something, a species of gleams that convey an appalling, ghastly appearance to the whole countenance; indeed, so strikingly apparent was the effect produced, that every individual present, to whom the writer addressed himself, made certain observations, which, if not precisely in unison with the above opinion, nevertheless tended to prove, that an appearance next to superhuman had impressed the minds of all present. The nose is prominent, the cheeks very much sunk in, and the lips rather thick, while the chin is of ah ordinary form, and, as well as the jaws, appear dark, from the complexion of the roots of the beard, which, if suffered to grow, would approximate to black.
A casual observer, wholly unacquainted with the singularity of the residue of Seurat's frame, supposing him completely attired, would be led to imagine that he beheld a person very recently risen from a bed of sickness, which had reduced him to death's door, as the countenance alone of this prodigy would not lead to impress the mind with an idea of the skeleton frame that existed beneath. The teeth are sound, and the jaws as strong as in ordinary persons: his palate is good, though from the narrowness of the passage to the chest, he only masticates very little pieces of food at a time, and sips what he drinks, as any liquid taken at a draught would produce suffocation.
During his residence in France, he usually ate in the course of the day, a penny roll, drinking what is there termed vin du pays, being champaigne wine very much diluted with water, which is the common beverage of the country people throughout the province. Since his arrival in England, Seurat partakes sparingly of animal diet, and in consequence consumes a reduced portion of bread; he states that those dishes which are the mast nutritious satisfy him the soonest, whereas of food not possessing such nutritious juices, he can consume a larger portion; the quantum he eats daily amounts to about three ounces. He now drinks indiscriminately, porter, cyder, or wines very much weakened by water, particularly the latter, which he finds much more potent than the petit vin, (weak wine) of his native soil. His digestion is particularly good, and the necessary evacuations of nature are performed with great regularity and ease.
The seven vertebræ of the neck are very apparent, and when in the act of speaking, "the ‘Living Skeleton" displays to he eye through his skin, the rotatory motion of the neck.
Pursuing downwards the scrutiny of our subject we next come to the os bumeri, or the shoulder-bones, which protrude extremely, while the right is much lower than the left, that being elevated in the same proportion. On contemplating the upper joint of the arms, we perhaps behold two of the most extraordinary members of this living anatomy, in which opinion, if report speaks true, we are borne out by that of Sir Astley Cooper. The bones literally speaking are no more than covered with skin, that being to all appearance stretched tightly over them, so that the circumference of each arm scarcely measures four inches; the elbows appear larger in consequence of the diminutive form of the upper joint just described; while the fore-arms on the contrary, increase in size, measuring at the broadest parts, five inches and a half in circumference. As regards the muscular powers of the arms, they are either contracted or wasted, as Seurat is wholly incapacitated from raising them above a semi-horizontal position.
The hands are skinny, and the fingers remarkably long, the lower joints of the latter being contracted upwards; (many of the newspapers have affirmed that this prodigy can write, whereas, owing to such contraction, he cannot hold a pen,) the nails are, however, perfect, and, perhaps, a more beautiful set never appeared to grace human hands, as they completely resemble in shape so many acorns.
The blade-bones, which are sparingly covered with skin, project exceedingly, and when the subject throws his arms back, they approach so near each other, that we verily believe they might hold a walnut; while the cavity (when in that position) between the blade-bones and the spine might admit a large orange to pass, without touching the nut in question. Taken between the shoulders, from the vertebræ of the back to the middle of the loins, the cavity, or falling-in that appears, is not less than five inches.
Nothing can excite more astonishment than a close examination of the chest, which, did no other part of Seurat's frame resemble death, would at once entitle him to the name of "the Living Skeleton." The bone in question sinks in so much, that the distance from the chest to the back-bone, measured externally, is under three inches; from which, if we deduct the thickness of the bones and skin, the separation internally, cannot be more than one inch and three quarters.
The sternum having to all appearance given way, the long ribs have sunk down towards the abdomen; they are distinguishable, and easily counted, one by one, and felt by the touch, as if they were distinct pieces of bone; while the pulsations of the heart are clearly perceptible to the eye, below the left papilla, which is lower than in ordinary cases, Its pulsation may also be heard, by placing the ear under the left shoulder.
The abdomen forms a complete hollow; and the body, measured where the ribs cease, is scarcely one foot eleven inches in circumference.
The hips, on either side, start out very much; and, as proves the case in respect to the upper joints of the arms, so the thighs are proportionably much smaller than the legs, being only covered tightly over with skin. The main arteries, however, running down the interior of the thighs, as well as the legs, are full and prominent.
The knees, as uniformly proves the case with subjects who are wasted by disease, are remarkably large, and of a reddish complexion, which becomes the more apparent, in consequence of the livid hue of the rest of the skin. On a close inspection it appears that there arc projections, or nodes, on the shin-bones; but the calves of the legs are perfectly pronounced, the one being much larger than the other. The ankles appear swollen, as well as the feet, particularly the latter, which are unusually large, compared with the other parts of this extraordinary human fabric. We remarked that the second toes lapped over the great ones; but whether that occurred naturally, or from the pressure of shoes, we did not ascertain. When in the act of walking, which Seurat can only do on a complete level surface, the foot appears like a useless log attached to the leg; the toes, as he raises it from the earth, inclining downwards, similar to the sensation we experience when the current of the blond having been for a time impeded, the same becomes stagnant, as proves the case, when a person experiences, what is vulgarly termed, the foot being asleep, which is succeeded by a pricking sensation, that denotes a recommencement of the circulation.
The skin of "the Living Skeleton," appears very dry to the touch, and almost divested of moisture; so that if a covering of such a peculiar texture enveloped the frame of an ordinary human creature, it would be incapable of fulfilling the purposes required by nature.
In consequence of the contracted action of the lungs, the breathing of this phenomenon is much confined, though Scurat does not seem to be much incommoded on that account. This may certainly in great measure arise from the sedentary life he leads, and the care that is taken not to fatigue him, by holding conversation for any lengthened period of time. In speaking of the action of the lungs, we cannot do better than quote the following statement from the Medical Adviser:—"We come now to the action produced by the effort of the lungs, and which, strange as it may appear, does not proceed from the chest, as in ordinary cases, but from the lower extremity of the abdomen, as though the organs of respiration, from excessive laxity, had absolutely descended from their own sphere, and that, by a tenacious effort of nature, unwilling to yield possession of her functions, they had accommodated themselves by time to such an unnatural and incredible a position."
Upon the whole, the health of Claude Ambrose Seurat has been uniformly good, from his infancy upwards, except in one instance, some five years back, when he experienced an attack of the liver complaint, on which occasion he was subjected to the application of leeches, as is perceptible on examining the skin on that side of the body.
The sleep of Seurat is uniformly good, except at times when he is subjected to attacks of the night-mare. In order, therefore, to prevent any ill consequences that might arise, he uniformly sleeps in the same bed with his father and mother-in-law, who, upon the most trifling cry, or agitated motion of the youth, have only to touch him, when the effect subsides. Seurat states that he is very subject to dream, but, as if by a special ordinance of the Almighty, he was never visited by any vision connected with his own deformity. He states, on the contrary, that he uniformly conceives himself engaged in mercantile affairs, and he is running about in all directions, to perform the duties thereby imposed upon him.
His voice, as may naturally be imagined, is by no means strong, but far from disagreeable; he states that music affords him infinite pleasure, and his father added, that Seurat had, in some instances, sang, in a faint tone of voice, some of the airs of his country.
We find, that such is the excessive sensitiveness of this wonderful, and, we conceive we may with truth add, unique sport of nature, that when his skin on the left side was subjected to the touch of a visitor, the surrounding surface of the body, to a certain extent, immediately manifested its sympathy, by an involuntary chill, which, instantly contracting the pores of the skin, produced that roughness of surface, vulgarly known by the term of goose's skin.
Long prior to the arrival of this phenomenon on our shores, many medical practitioners in his own country, by whom he had been examined, were decidedly of opinion that the lungs were situated in a much lower region than that usually occupied by those of individuals in general, With that opinion Sir Astley Cooper, who has twice visited Seurat since his arrival, coincides; who also states, that the heart is in like manner unnaturally placed, being lower, by its whole length, in the body of this subject than in the trunk of any ordinary man.
We also believe that we are correct in stating that Sir Astley Cooper attributes the wasting of the form of Seurat to this unnatural position of the heart and lungs, which, having been deprived of their full action, produced the gradual withering of the muscles, the consequence of which was a progressive decay of his general structure.
How the climate of Great Britain may agree with the Living Skeleton, when the winter season sets in, remains to be proved. The extraordinary summer we now experience, certainly places Seurat in a climate nearly parallel with that of Champaigne, so that his continuing for a lengthened period in a state of nudity may not be thought surprising; though we must say we felt astonished that a frame so fragile, as scarcely to be wind proof, should be enabled to support the current of air during so long a period.
Seurat, as well as bis father, appears anxious to communicate freely every thing relating to himself, and submits without a murmur, to the scrutiny and touch of his visitors.
We cannot close this Memoir without remarking, that however the front view of the Living Skeleton may create dismay in the beholder, that sentiment is considerably augmented on viewing his person in a side point of view, with the arms elevated. Io that attitude you glance from the unnatural projection of the shoulder, along the hollow of the back, down to the hip, forming, as it were the exact figure of three. Then directing the regard to the front of the figure, the sight is saluted by the ghastly projection of the chest, the sudden cavity of the abdomen, the unnatural protuberance of the left side, owing to the low position of the heart, from which the gaze is directed to the posteriors, which greatly protrude, rendering the whole a form unparalleled in the annals of humanity, and in every respect entitled to the name of "THE LIVING SPECTRE."
Note: Text reformatted for legibility.