Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-22

EXTRAORDINARY Lusus NATURE.

En- ihAOhDiN AK LCSOS IA OA1s
We do not recoIect 10 have seen any
notice taken by our newspapers Of an exc
iraordinary birth 10 Woodiord county in
September last.
Every considerable deviation from that
beautiful and harmonious arrangement
which is pursued by nature in the animal
kingdom, is denominated monster. These
productions, though not frequent are re.
maFkably diversified. To prove this po-
sition il is only necessary TO state that ca-
ses are recorded where children have been
born either destitute Of head fwhen they
survived but few hours possessing two
heads, or where they we're inseparably
connected.
Of this latter description Of monsters
are two children now living in Woodford
lcounty. To the cnriuus,a concise ae-
lcoun, Of this prodigy may not be entirely
tuainterestIng. Neither leisure nor ability
will enable us 10 suggest ingenious or learn
ed specuIatious relative TO the principles
which influence and control these anoma-
lous formations.
Martha Ann and Mary Jane, we're born
September 22d, 1919; the former is small
er, and remained 10 state of apparent
death for three quarters of an hour, when
she was revived by the vigorous circula.
ton of her sister. These children are
Joined together at the back, below the
Ioins; before, the junction is fleshy, behind,
bony-haying their bodies aud faces pla-
ced half side ways towards each other
From their connection upwards they are
perfectly formed, and have lower extremi.
ties similar TO other children, but only one
extremity of each child viii be employed
in walking, viz. the external as the other
two are smaller, and the feet point rather
backwards One child cries whilst the
other is asleep. They are sprightly and
intelligent OF their age, aud give every in-
dication of living. They excite the COM
miseratiou of those who have visited them,
among whom are several physicians, who
almost unanimously declare that any sur
gical operation, to separate them, would
prove Immediately or ultimately fatal.
A very analogous case to the preceding
is contained in Rees's Cyclopadia. The
celebrated Hungarian sisters who were
born 10 Saxony. in 1901, and exhibited Ia
England and different parts OF Europe, at
tanned to the age of %. Their connection
strictly resembled that Of Martha Ann and
Mary Jane-their intellectual powers and
wills were different-they were agreeable
and we'll bred, could read. write and sing
very prettiiy, and could speak the Hunga-
risn. French, German, and English LAM
suases. They we're separately attacked
with different diseases-Judi,h being often
coovulsed. while Helen remained free from
indisposition: they however most fortu-
nately died together.
Wickedncss punished.-Tbe Norfolk
Herald contains letter from Cumberland
comfy. which states, that young lady OF
considerable wealth, was preparing TO go
TO meeting. and while standing before the
class combing and curling her hair, her
sister urged her to make haste or she
would be too late; to which she replied,
in an angry tone, " that she had rather go
"a hell than to church, without having her
hair fixed to please hers no sooner had this
impious exclamation escaped her lips, than
he dropped dead on the flcori 1t seems
lmost impossible that such speech could
be uttered by female; but the writer
aies, that "such an occurrence actually
did take place"