Unbelievable But True: A French Woman Living In Paris In The Early 1800s Suddenly Grew A 24cm Long Horn That Made Many Shiver

Kane Khanh | Archeaology
July 17, 2023

Madame Dimanche, also known as Widow Sunday, was a French woman living in Paris in the early 19th century. At the age of 76, a cutaneous horn began growing from her forehead, and over the next six years, it grew to a length of 24.9 cm (9.8 inches) before being successfully removed by French surgeon Dr. Joseph Souberbielle.

A cutaneous horn, also known as cornu cutaneum, is a rare condition where a horn-like growth protrudes from the skin on the human body. They can appear at various locations on the body, but are commonly found on the scalp or forehead. The exact cause of cutaneous horn formation is still not fully understood, but it is often associated with the accumulation of dead skin cells.

Madame Dimanche’s case is one of the most notable cases of a cutaneous horn. The growth of the horn can cause discomfort, self-consciousness, and interference with daily activities. Therefore, Madame Dimanche decided to seek the help of Dr. Joseph Souberbielle to have the horn removed from her forehead.

Dr. Joseph Souberbielle, a French surgeon, performed a surgical procedure to remove the cutaneous horn from Madame Dimanche. The procedure can be described as carefully cutting away the horn with a scalpel and then treating the wound afterwards. The success of the surgery helped Madame Dimanche escape from a six-year-long nightmare.

However, there is not much detailed information about the impact of the horn growth on Madame Dimanche after its removal. Cases of cutaneous horns like this are considered rare and often attract medical community’s interest due to their unique nature.