In the early 19th century, Paris was the scene of an unusual medical case involving a woman known as Madame Dimanche, or “Widow Sunday.” At the age of 76, Madame Dimanche began to develop a cutaneous horn (a rare keratinous tumor) on her forehead.

Over the course of six years, this horn grew to an astonishing length of 24.9 centimetres (9.8 inches). The condition, formally known as “cornu cutaneum,” is characterized by a conical projection on the surface of the skin that can resemble a horn, wood or coral.

Despite the impressive size of the horn, it was successfully removed by the renowned French surgeon Br. Joseph Souberbeille (1754-1846). Cutaneous horns are usually small and benign, but occasionally they can become malignant or premalignant, making each case unique and medically significant.

Madame Dimanche’s condition and the subsequent removal of the horn attracted considerable attention. A wax model of her head, depicting the extraordinary growth, is preserved and displayed at the Mütter Museum, College of Physicians of Philadelphia, USA. This exhibit offers a rare insight into the medical curiosities and challenges of the 19th century.