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‘Portrait of Mr J Kay, Afflicted with a Rodent Disease’
‘Portrait of Mr J Kay, Afflicted with a Rodent Disease’ Oil on canvas c.1820 RRa0091 / 603117i Wellcome Library
The diagnosis of this disfigured man is unclear. The term ‘rodent’ is usually connected with cancer, and this painting includes the inscription ‘cancer
of the nose’, but Mr Kay also has the distinctive look of someone with Hutchinson’s teeth, a sign of congenital syphilis.