The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-06
FOREIGN NEWS.

received at New York A few extracts are an.
nexed.
The London Times informs its readers
that an effort will be made during the next
session of Parliament, to emancipate the
Jews!
FRANCE.
Death and dissection of the BicephaIOus or
Double Headed GirL. The child with two
heads, which lately arrived at Paris from
Sardinia, and was the subject of as much
attention in the French capital, as the
Samese boys are in London, is dead. Rita
or the right side of the infant, had been i'll
for three days, and her illness did not ap-
pear in any degree to influence the health
of Christina, the other side so that at the
moment when Rita had given up the ghost,
Christina was hanging to the breast of her
mother and playing with her face. But
suddenly she let go, heaved a sigh, and
died. The hcephalic infant has been car
ried to the Theatre of Anatomy, in the
Jardin du Roi. where it was dissected on
the Goth of November, in the presence of
the members Of q committee appointed
by the Royal Academy oil Medicine. The
following are the most interesting details
of this truly curious autopsy.
Upon inspecting the chest, the lungs
were found in healthfnl state, and of a
pretty regular conformation. The right
lobe Of the lungs of Rita, and the left one
of Christina, were evidently cramped in
their development; they were consequent
ly more contracted than their other molety,
but no trace of fusion was observable in
these organs.
The pericardum, or envelope ofcovering
for the heart, was single, but inclosed two
hearts, so closely connected and bound
together that during life the peristaltic mo-
ti0ns must have been simultaneous, and
consequently COMPOUNDED. This explains
why the stethoscope transmitted but the
sound of single organ of circulation, and
shows why, when life ceased in Rita,
Christina was likewise obliged to lose
hers the beating Of the heart of one being
locked or enchanted by the immobility OF
the others heart.
The organs of digestion were double, as
far as the cecum, which comprises the
stomach where the chyle is formed, and the
intestines where the allmentary absorption
takes place. From the c@cum there was
but single duct or passage, and as the
alimentary substance scarcely contain any
more nutritive principles when they arrive
at the cecum, it follows from hence that
with respect TO the organs of digestion
Rita and Christina were in condition
where life became impossible to them.
There were two livers but they united
into one. The organ uterus was likewise
double. A thousand circumstances of this
complex organization, which were exceed
ingly we'll analysed by NJ Godfrey de Saint
Hiaire, render the study of this bicepha-
lous child of the highest interest to srience.
They would be too lengthy to he entered
upon in this place; besides, we shall have
an opportunity of returning to this subject
when the learned Professor of the Jardin du
Roi shall complete the important work he
Is preparing on this case.
Christina Rita was evidently not des-
tined to attain an advanced ago. There
was too much Inequarrvy -D0vvvOoA the Two
parts but every thing indicates that she
might have lived for several years. Her
premature death has deprived the world of
May interesting observations which might
have resulted from the development OF two
intellects existing, if not in a single organi-
'Zation, at least in two organizations so
closely united. OF how many phenomena,
psychological, physiological, and PATHOLOGY
cal, are we deprived? The study of a
being like this, arrived at an age when she
could account for her ideas and sensations,
would he one of the most interesting which
could be offered to the meditation of the
philosopher
The possibility of the prolongation of
the life of such being to mature age ap-
pears to he demonstrated, and there is no
longer any reason to doubt the general
veracity of the authors who bave written on
such subjects. Some information has lately
been given of bicephalous girl who died
in Hungary, at the age of 81, the death
of the two parts not being instantaneous,
as in the case of Chrstina-Ritta, but an in
terval Of five minutes having occurred be-
tween the death of the one and the other.
French Affairs. Prince Polignac has
materially strengthened himself by obtain
ing the support of the leading members from
the departments, and also the monied inter-
est, which will ensure him majority iH the
chambers. The French Funds have i'm
proved. The French journals, however,
continue full Of the greatest excitement rel
alive TO the changes in the Ministry
A correspondent of the London Morning
Chronicle assures its readers, that the days
of Frances monarchial government are
numbered, and that the officers OF that coun-
try are fast approaching republicism; and
that revolution more complete than that
of 1872, is in rapid progress. The following
are extracts:
"The Prince Polignac is the last Royal.
ist Minister TINT will rvvu, III human PrvI,..
bility direct the affairs Of France. He knows
this, as well as he does the sun shines at
noon; and it is therefore that he cxerts
himself to remove prejudices, soften down
passion and suhjugate the violence of party
feeling. But it is all of no use. Do re-
joice at this By no means. Do believe
that France. either by the extent Of her
population, or by her geographical position,
Is suited to the application of republican
principles, and that a republican Govern
ment will he beneficial Quite the con-
trary. But wishes and my opinions are
hiflcr In lhn L., IL e IL =.