For those hesitant to click : It’s a gentleman sitting with both of his feet missing, and the next photo shows a black (necrotic?) foot. The man seems to be relatively calm, resting his hands on his knees and his stumps are in contact with the ground.
What are the likely causes here? Leprosy? Frostbite? Would either of those cause the entire foot to fall off?
The feet could have been amputated, if it was frostbite. Or, since it appears to be a tropical location, perhaps infection? It might also be photoshopping too, though.
The ends of the two bones in each leg (the fibula and the tibia) are rounded and appear to be their natural ends, suggesting a deliberate disarticulation at the ankle joint. Also, the tissue proximate to the joints is cleanly incised circumferentially, and very much similar on both sides.
This is a post-surgical result (not done in a modern medical facility, obviously; I’m using “surgery” in a very loose sense). However whether there was an underlying bilateral condition or it was done for torture or punishment, I don’t think you can say with absolute certainty. As an example, a severe bilateral foot condition from medical illness or a severe trauma followed by bilateral amputation of the foot at the ankle would both leave this kind of result.
See this from Wikipedia, e.g.: “In some countries, amputation of the hands or feet is sometimes used as a form of punishment for criminals. In some cultures and religions, minor amputations or mutilations are considered a ritual accomplishment.”Amputation - Wikipedia
It sorta smells like that to me. Looks like the local barber took 'em off. Enough skill to not kill the guy. Leaving exposed bone to limp around on–good in the short term but in the long run it will probably kill him from chronic infection that eventually wins.
It’s not brand new; the distal legs show chronic edema and redness, either from secondary infection or an underlying condition.
If the two photos are related, maybe the guy has to keep the feet nearby to remind everyone of whatever sin he committed to deserve this punishment.
Anyway, that’s my guess. More likely punishment/torture than a medical effort, in part because so much bone was left exposed. We don’t leave exposed bone in medical amputations, and I can’t believe even the most primitive “surgeon” would not know that.
Yeah, and you’d think that infection would just ROCKET through the system if the bone/wound is left open like that.
It’s also possible that a ligature (sp?) was used to tie off the circulation to the feet and that amputation was sort of natural at that point.
This is not the appearance of a ligature-based amputation. The skin margins do not suggest that. Also, the foot would still have to be removed, as it would stay attached because of the ankle ligaments.
On the infection front…host defenses are amazing, and way more important than the germ theory of disease would leave you to believe.
