The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-11-12
A MOnstr0uS Birth.

A MOnstrOuS Birth.
The following account of monstrosity
is furnished by a correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial
Our community is much excited over a
freak of nature in the production of a
double baby. The Siamese Twins are COM
pletely overshadowed by this infant won
der. There is living in Peru Township,
Morrow county, a family nrmed Finley
Up to last Wednesday morning it consisted
of Mr.. Joseph Finley, his wife Mary, and
two children, little girls, aged three and
five years. On that morning Mrs. Finley
was confined, and gave birth to twins Joined
| together in a manner unknown to the
books. When the gossips brought the
news OF the event to our city, and gave
descriptions of the child, or rather chill
dren, it was laughed at by the profession
ais, and pronounced good hoax. A gen.
tleman living in the vicinity of the Finley
home called on one of our physicians and
assured him that there was no exaggera-
ton in the description, as he had seen the
wonder. Convinced that there was some
thing in the case, party of gentlemen,
consisting of Drs. J. A. Little and T. B.
Williams, w. o. Seamens, Professor of
Natural History and Chemistry in the Ohio
Wesleyan University, and S. X. Donavan,
on the 10th ult. visited the family. Before
reaching the Finley farm the party called
on DR.. A. E. Westbrook, of Ashley, who
had been called to attend the mother, and
learned from him that the half had not
been told. DR.. Westbreok accompanied
the party.
An hours drive brought them to the
place. On going to the gate leading to the
yard, written notice was discovered,
announcing that visitors would not be
admitted. This did not deter the party
They Immediately entered the yard, and,
on reaching the front door of the dwelling;
they were met by Mr.. Finley (the father
and a gentleman who appeared to be acting
as his aide-decamp, who informed the
party that they could be admitted to see
the show on the payment of twenty five
cents each. The Professor promptly forked
over, and the party stepped in. In few
minutes the nurse made her appearance
with the wonder. A double child was
exhibited. Two perfectly formed heads,
one on either side of the spinal column
To give clear idea just suppose that you
f1,n nf OF {ho
part of the abdomen, and then put the two
upper parts together, and you have the
trunk of this child. At the instance of
Drs. Williams and Little, the clothing was
was made, so far as could be without doing
injury. From the occiput of one child to
the occiput of the other, there is contin-
uous spine, in a direct line. Upon one side
and directly in the centre of the trunk,
were perfectly developed hips, thighs legs,
and feet. They are in nice proportion to
the body of either child. On the opposite
side there is one large, imperfectly formed
leg, presenting the appearance of the con-
solidation of two legs. There are eight
toes on this limb, two of which have the
appearance of great toes being much larger
than the others. Each has well-formed
head. good features, good chest, good arms
and hands, lung, heart, liver, and stomach.
Between the perfectly formed limbs, and
properly situated, are the anus and sexual
organ, in common. The lower portion of
bn hpua1s bn 1lal1ar on5 Dorl,ape ba
kidneys are in common. All the other
organs are separate. There was but one
umbilical cord and one placenta. The
length of the body is twenty inches, and
the umbilicus is central in the abdomen,
and equi-distant from each head. 1t nurses
we'll at both ends, and, when first exhibited
10 the party, one child was asleep and the
other was crying. While the physicians
were making their examination, both
cried but few minutes after the one
which was crying first went to sleep, while
the other remained awake. When either
head would cry, the perfect leg which was
while the leg nearest the other head
remained quiet. When either cried, the
toes OH the imperfect foot would move, but
the limb remained stationary. Both heads
nurse well, and the child, or rather chill
dren, are in excellent health. The physi-
clans could see no reason why it, or they
should not live. The mother is doing WELL
There was no physician present at the
birth, and the labor pains lasted only fifteen
minutes. Mr.. Finley is alive to the import
ance and value of this addition to his
family. He is now charging gate money,
and he informed the writer that he had
already entered into an article of agree
ment with a gentleman for the sale of the
body if it should die. Price fixed is $10,-
600. Negotiations are i'll progress for its
exhibition, if it lives. He is convinced
that there is money in it, dead or alive
He says he is conscious of the fact that he
"is an unframed man, but has sense enough
not to be fooled out of it,