Physician unravels cause of deformities of famous Punch character

The disease that causes the bodily deformations of the Pulcinella character (Punch in Britain) have been the subject of speculation among doctors since at least the 19^th century. Pulcinella’s humped back, hooked nose, squeaky voice and paunch are as much his trademark as his angry, lazy, physically abused persona.

In the late 19^th century and again in 1996, doctors speculated that Pulicnella, a Commedia dell’Arte character of the 16^th century with roots in ancient Rome, suffered from acromegaly. This condition includes the humped back and paunch but also enlarged feet, hands and face and emotional disturbances. Acromegaly is caused by overstimulation of the pituitary gland by a tumor and release of too much growth hormone.

Now come Doctors Emanuele Armocida of the University of Bologna along with Thomas Böni, Frank J. Rühli and Francesco M. Galassi with a letter to the editor of the European Journal of Internal Medicine published in November 2015. They say perhaps Pulcinella did not suffer from acromegaly alone.