Biologist Jessica DeRubeis briefly discusses the life of sideshow performer Eli Bowen. Then, she goes on to explain the extremely rare congenital disorder called phocomelia in great detail.
Who was Eli Bowen?
Eli Bowen, frequently known as “The Legless Wonder”, was an American acrobat who turned his medical disability into a lucrative living. One of eight siblings, Eli was born with a congenital abnormality in which the bones of his legs did not form correctly and his feet grew directly from his torso. This condition is known as phocomelia.