f cases in which the ossicles
were deficient without causing any imperfection of hearing. Caldani
mentions a case with the incus and malleus deficient, and Scarpa and
Torreau quote instances of deficient ossicles. Thomka in 1895 reported
a case of supernumerary tympanic ossicle, the nature of which was
unknown, although it was neither an inflammatory product nor a remnant
of Meckel's cartilage.

Absence of the Limbs.--Those persons born without limbs are either the
subjects of intrauterine amputation or of embryonic malformation.
Probably the most celebrated of this class was Marc Cazotte, otherwise
known as "Pepin," who died in Paris in the last century at the age of
sixty-two of a chronic intestinal disorder. He had no arms, legs, or
scrotum, but from very jutting shoulders on each side were well-formed
hands. His abdomen ended in a flattened buttock with badly-formed feet
attached. He was exhibited before the public and was celebrated for his
dexterity. He performed nearly all the necessary actions, exhibited
skilfulness in all his movements, and was credited with the ability of
coitus. He was quite intellectual, being able to write in several
languages. His skeleton is preserved in the Musee Dupuytren. Flachsland
speaks of a woman who three times had borne children without arms and
legs. Hastings describes a living child born without any traces of arms
or legs. Garlick has seen a child with neither upper nor lower
extremities. In place of them were short stumps three or four inches
long, closely resembling the ordinary stumps after amputation. The
head, chest, body, and male genitals were well formed, and the child
survived. Hutchinson reports the history of a child born without
extremities, probably the result of intrauterine amputation. The flaps
were healed at the deltoid insertion and just below the groin. Pare
says he saw in Paris a man without arms, who by means of his head and
neck could crack a whip or hold an axe. He ate by means of his feet,
dealt and played cards, and threw dice with the same members,
exhibiting such dexterity that finally his companions refused to play
with him. He was proved to be a thief and a murderer and was finally
hanged at Gueldres. Pare also relates having seen a woman in Paris who
sewed, embroidered, and did other things with her feet. Jansen speaks
of a man in Spain, born without arms, who could use his feet as well as
most people use their arms. Schenck and Lotichius give des