CRACHAMI,CAROLINE, THE SICILIAN DWARF (1815-1824) - WAS SHE REALLY 9 YEARS OLD AT DEATH

Caroline Crachami (C.C.) considered to have had the Seckel syndrome wa s one of the most extreme cases of dwarfism ever recorded. Reputedly b orn in Sicily in 1815, she attracted much attention when exhibited in England before her death on 3 June 1824. Although she is said to have been 9 years old at death, published descriptions give her a dental ag e varying from 2 to 7 years. Examination of her skull in the Royal Col lege of Surgeons of England demonstrated a more or less erupted comple te deciduous dentition, with no erupted permanent teeth. Radiographs s howed agenesis of several permanent teeth. It was concluded that the d ental age of C.C. was 3 years (plus or minus 6 months). Perikymata wer e evident in the surface enamel encircling the crown of the partially exposed maxillary left first permanent molar. Their distribution and s pacing were normal, with no evidence of developmental retardation. The distance between the periradicular bands in the root near the cement- enamel junction was also normal. We conclude that the dental age of C. C. was similar to her chronological age and that at death she was abou t 3 and not 9 years old. The reason that she was said to be nearly 9 w hen exhibited in England we believe was related to financial considera tions, as people would be generally less impressed with a dwarf only 3 years old. The new age we give C.C. has implications on the diagnosis of her medical condition.