Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-04-16
A SINGULAR M0NSTROSITY.

The Philadelphia correspondent of the New
York Tribune gives the following account of
singular monstrosity that was brought to tn,
notice OF the surgeons of that city:
But If there be monstrosities in the law, ther,
are Others i'll surgery equally remarkable. On,
of the latter was recently dissected at the Jefier
son Medical College, the like of which is un
known in the annals of human deformities A
child seven months old, was brought to the
Collcdge Hospital from the western part of the
State, having appended to its left cheek a large
mass of ilesh somewhat resembling tumor
This mass grew more rapidly than the child it.
self. AT birth it was no larger than an apple
but when brought here last month it was nearly
a foot long. It's surface was neither smooth
nor regular, but was divided into several glob.
ular masses, while pulsaton was distinctly per-
ceptible, regular and uninterrupted, from forty
to a hundred beats per minute. 1t was trav-
ersed by large artery, showing that it was
largely supplied with blood. The tumor was
connected to the childs check by peculiar
caul-likc membrane, pierced with holes, and its
pscsence was a source of constant irritation to
the child, though supported by the mothers
hand. How to remove this huge tumor with
out destroying the life ofthe child was the great
surgical problem. The parents, warned of the
danger, were yet extremely anxious to have the
IlPullul pdIdsltt tdhtu OH. Ut. IuflcOaSt, uf-
der whose charge the patient had been placed
decided that the use of the knife would result in
fatal hemorrhagc, and determined to divide
the caul-like membrane by using French sur
glcal instrument, the ecrdse,tr, which, by forco
ing down the skin; and bruising the vessels
thoroughly before the chain of the INSTRUMENT
cuts through the mass, eiiectually prevents all
serious bleeding. The operation was performed
IN presence of an immense assemblage of med :
ical men. students and others.
The child was placed under the influence OF
ether, when all pulsaton in the parasit was OBJ
served to cease. The instrument being applied,
the chain was rapidly worked until the parts
were well compressed and afterward very slow
ly. In fifteen minutes the tumor came away
with the instrument, the chain having worked
through the connecting membrane, while scarce
ly drop of blood followed the removal, and but
one small vessel required ligature The sur
face left on the check was about two inches
square, and the tumor weighed two and halt
pounds. The whole operation was entirely sue
cesSiul, aad the child lives and has fully recov-
cred. But the extraordinary part remains to be
told. The t!mor thus taken of was found to
contain living child, iinperfectly developed it
is true. but still a living child. Fingers were
seen. and a portion of a rudimentary arm. The
intestincs were well developed, and no doubt
EGc q6 is he RsSEs Hear" "tc coaahed Ghd ina
perfectly formed, aurcles and ventricles. The
mcsentcric arteries and veins were of large size.
The disNectins kniic came repeatedly in contact
with the o,ScOuS matter of a ruoimentarv skele-
ton. Fat was found in large quantities every
where. 1t was in fact repetition of the Siam
ese Twins, only less perfectly developed. These
results were received with profound astonish-
ment by the crowded audiance who witnessed
the operation. The case is said to be unique in
the annals Of human malformation.