The fascinating story of Madame Dimanche, Paris’s horned woman

In the bustling streets of 19th-century Paris, few figures sparked as much curiosity and speculation as Madame Dimanche.

Known for her remarkable 10-inch horn protruding from her forehead, the ”Widow Sunday” became an fascinating symbol of the extraordinary.

People who stand out have always attracted attention. While many may think of the Elephant Man, there are numerous individuals who have developed unique appearances — often due to rare medical conditions.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at a remarkable 19th-century Parisian woman who began growing a thick horn from her forehead in her seventies.

Since she lived so long ago, finding reliable information about this enigmatic woman can be challenging, but we know quite a bit about her.

Madame Dimanche was born in France and, according to the Guinness World Records, she resided in Paris during the early 19th century. After a long and undoubtedly full life selling watercress on the streets of Paris, she began to develop a horn in the center of her forehead at the respectable age of 76.

How long was the horn?

Eventually, the horn measured an impressive 25.4 cm (10 inches) in length and 5.08 cm (2 inches) in diameter at its base, capturing the fascination of those around her.

However, understandably, the main character was far from pleased with her new forehead companion. While some might have found fascination in her unique appearance, she grew increasingly fatigued from carrying the weight of the horn—both physically and emotionally.

As time went on, the burden became too much to bear, and the once curious stares of passersby turned into a source of distress. Fearing that she might one day meet her maker “with such a satanic ornament on her face,” she made the difficult decision to have it surgically removed.

This was a time when science and surgery were far less advanced than they are today, making the procedure to remove Madame Dimanche’s horn a likely complex undertaking. However, skilled hands did exist in the 1800s, and one of them belonged to the renowned French surgeon Br. Joseph Souberbeille. He was not just any physician; Souberbeille was a prominent figure during the French Revolution, having worked as a military doctor and later serving as chief surgeon for the victors of the Bastille in 1789.

A close associate of Maximilien Robespierre, he narrowly escaped the guillotine, which adds a dramatic twist to his story. Throughout his medical career, he became something of an expert in lithotomy, a surgical method used to remove stones formed in certain organs. It was through this expertise that he encountered Madame Dimanche.

Surgery

Once the operation was successfully completed, Madame Dimanche, also known as “Widow Sunday,” appeared surprisingly unmoved. According to Life in the Fastlane, she nodded in gratitude and thanked Dr. Souberbeille for his care.

As they walked away, the registrar let out a whistle. “A shame there were no students today, eh, Prof?” he remarked.

The professor raised an eyebrow, annoyed by the comment. “No students?” he echoed, a smile spreading across his face. “We are all students, my boy. We are all students…”

Dimanche’s story might have been forgotten or relegated to a dusty old medical textbook if not for one remarkable detail: a wax model of her head is on display at the Mütter Museum, part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. This exhibit ensures her legacy lives on, and gives us a glimpse into the strange and fascinating world of medical oddities.

Why did she grow a horn?

So, how did Madame Dimanche end up growing a horn out of her forehead? No, she wasn’t cursed, and no, she wasn’t turning into a unicorn!

What she had is known as a cutaneous horn — made from keratin, the same stuff as your hair and nails. These hard, cone-shaped growths form on the skin and can be quite shocking to see. While it’s unclear exactly why Madame Dimanche developed hers, it’s fascinating that she lived with it for so long without any major health issues. The only real problem seemed to be how it looked, which — let’s face it — wasn’t a small issue, especially in her case.

Thankfully, the surgery to remove it went smoothly, and Madame Dimanche went on to live the rest of her life without further complications. Considering she was 76 when the horn was removed, that’s quite the feat for that era.

Her story — a blend of medical wonder and human oddity — still captures the imagination of both historians and the public. So share this story about a woman who, quite literally, grew into an unexpected chapter of medical history!

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