The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-11-26
The siamese Twins outdone.
EXTRAORDINARY FREAK OF NATURE.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial

community is mucn eXclteu Over d
freak of nature in the production of
a double baby. The Siamese twins
are completely overshadowed bXfhis
infant wonder. There is living in
Peru township, Morrow county, a
family named Finley. Up to last
Wednesday morning, iRconsisted OF
Mr.. Joseph Finley, his wife Mary,
and two children, little girls, aged
three and five years. On that morn
ing, Mrs. Finley was confined, and
gave birth to twins, joined together
i'm "a manner unknown to books.
When the gossips brought the news
of the event to eur city, and gave
descriptions of the child, or rather
ehildrene it was laughed at by the
professional, and pronounced good
hoax A gentleman living in the
vicinity of the Finley home called
On one of our physicians, and assu-
red him that there was no exaggera-
ton in the description, as he had
seen the wonder. Convinced that
there was something in the case, a
party of gentlemen consisting OF
Drs. J. A. Little and Z. B. Williams,
w. OsSeamens, professor of natural
history and chemistry in the Ohio
Wesleyan University, and s. X. Do
navin, on the 10Th inst, visited the
family. Before reaching the Finley
farm the party called on DR.. e. A.
Westbrook, of Ashley, who had been
called to attend the mother, and
learned from him that the half had
not been told. DR.. Westbfook ac-
companied the party. An hours
drive brought them to the place. On
going to the gate leading to the yard,
a written notice was discovered, an
nouncing that visitors would not be
admitted. This did not deter the
party. They Immediately entered
the yard, and on reaching the front
deor of the dwelling, they were met
by Mr.. Finley (the father) and gen
tleman who appeared to be acting as
his aid-de- camp, who informed the
party that they could be admitted to
see the show on the payment OF
twenty-fiv cents each. The profess
or promptly forked over, and the
party stepped in. In a few minutes
the nurse made her appearance with
the wonder. A double child was ex-
hibited. Two perfectly formed heads,
one on either end Of the spinal col
umn.
To give a clear idea of it, just sup,
pose that you sever the bodies OF
two men at the lower part OF the alb
domen and then put the two upper
parts together, and you have the
trunk of this child. At the instance
of Drs. William and Little, the cloth.
ing was taken from it, and a critical
examination was made, so far as
could be, without doing injury. From
the occiput of one child to the occl'
pit of the other, there is a continu,
ous spine, in d direct line. Upon
one side, and directly in the centre
of the trunk, were perfectly develo
ped hips, thighs, legs and feet. They
are in nice proportion to the body Of
either child. On the opposite side
there is one large, imperfeetly form
ed leg, presenting the appearance OF
the consolidation of two legs. There
are eight toes ON this limb, two o.
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 form
ed limbs, and properly situated, are
the anus and sexual organ, in com
mon. The lower part of the bowels
the bladder, and perhaps the kid
neys, are in common. All the othel
organs are separate.
There was but one umbilicai core
and one placenta. The length of ths
body is twenty inches, aud the um
bilious is central in the abdomen
and equi-distant from each head. i
nurses well at both ends, and wheI
exhibited to the party, one child wa'
asleep and the other was crying
While the physicians were making
their examination, both cried, bu
q few minutes after the one which
was crying went TO sleep, while tn.
other remained awake. When Ell
ther head would cry the perfect lie.
which was nearest to that heat
kicked and drew up, while the lei
nearest the other head remained
quiet. When either cried, the toe
ON the imperfect foot would move
but the limb remained stationary
Both heads nurse well, and the child
or rather children, are in excellen
health. The physicians could see n
reason why it, or they, should no
live. The mother is doing well
There was no physician present a
the birth, and the labor pains laste'
only fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Finlay is alive to the impol
tance and value of this addition t
his family. He is now chargin
gate money, and he informed tn
writer that he had already entere'
\ into articles of agreement with =
gentleman for the sale of the body
lie it should die. Price fixed
10,O0O. Negotiations are in pre-
gress for its exhibition if it lives. Il
Lis convinced that there is money /
lit, dead or alive, but thinks there j
most in the latter condition. III
says that he is conscious OF the fac
THAT he lis an unlarned man, bu
Ihas sense enough not TO be foOle'
out OF it. .
1t is certainly one of the most ea
ftraordinary freaks, If not the mos