Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-05-26
Anatomical Phenomenon.

A lad who had been sometime ill, died
Yesterday morning. He was three years
of age at his demise, and the disease that
carried him off was "dothinentertis." From
the family of the lad, who readily gave
their consent to the autopsy, and his physi-
clan, Doctor Fox Smith, who, with the as
sistance of Doctor Sheridan, DR.. Hale, and
others, performed the operation, we obtain
ed the following particulars:
This lad, when born, was twin child,
and attached 70 the side of the other child,
which also, at birth, be it remembered, was
alive. The contact between the children
extended from the mamma to the spine OF
the ilium, and there was free interchange
of nerves and blood-vessels passing over
from one body to the other. The former
the nerves. had their origin IN the dorsal
region of the vertebre, and the latter (the
blood-vessels) rose from the arch of the a
orta and emerged into the vena cava ascend
ems. There was but one umbilical Gimple
between the twins and that was situated in
the centre of the vital connecting septum.
In all other respects, we believe, the con-
formation of the twins was normal.
These children thus singularly united,
were large and healthy, at birth, and bid
fare to live. But, six months after birth,
when dentltion was beginning with both,
one of the twins died. DR.. Smith was sent
for, to separate the living child from the lit
tie corpse at its side. On examining the
hfeless body however he discovered, to his
surprise, that pulsation still continued in it,
even in the eXtremities-as the temples,
feet and wrists. He hesitated, therefore,
for time, to resort to the knife.
Yet there could be no doubt, here, of the
death of this one Of the twins. Formerly,
from its birth to the moment in discussion,
1t had nursed, cried, smiled, showed signs
of conciousness, in short, as evidently as
any infant possessing an Independent and
distinct vitality But, after this moment, it
never nursed, it never cried, it never smil-
ed, it never showed sign Of consciousness.
It's eyes remained Theoretically sealed, its
mouth closed, and all physiological func-
tions terminated.
Still, the body did not decay. 1t did not
grow any more on the contrary, it rather
diminished in bulk. 1t shriveled up, until
it assumed the shape of those interesting in
fantile mummies that Professor Gliddon un-
folds when he gives an exhibition to the
schools. The circulation Of living blood
from the surviving twin, it would seem,
preserved the body of the dead one.
In this manner, the lad lived three years,
as we have stated, carrying his brother, in
living tomb, at his side. Few, besides
his family and physician, knew ofthese ex-
traordinary circumstances. 1t was con-
ceit of the mother, originating in her grief
and anxiety, that the child that first died,
did not in truth die, (since there was no
bodily decomposition,) but that It's life-its
splrits-receded into the body of the other,
which became then the tabernacle, so to
speak, of dual soul.
No mental phenomena characterized the
lad we have described. In every respect,
except the anatomical peculiarities we have
described, he was like ordinary children.
". o. Delta Of .March 26h.