Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-11-22
MISCELLANEO US.
A Monstrous Birth.


The following account of monstrosity is
furnished by Delaware correspondence Of
the Cincinnati Commercial:
Our community is much excited over
freak of nature in the production of double
baby. The Siamese twins are completely
overshadowcd by this infant wonder. There
is living in Peru Township, Morrow county, a
family named Finley. Up to last Wednesday
morning it consisted of MIR Jos. Finley. his
wife Mary and two children. little girls. aged
three aud 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 children, it was laughed
at by the professionals and pronounced good
hoax. A gentleman living in the vicinity of
the Finley home called on one of our physi-
clans aud assured him that there was no ex-
aggeraton in the description. as he had seen
the wonder Convinced that there was some
thing in the case, party of gentlemen, con-
sisting of Drs. J. A. Little and Il. B. Will
liams. Mr.. w. 0. Seamens. Professor of Nat
ural History and Chemistry in the Ohio Wes>
leyan University, and s. K. Donavan, on the
10th ult.. visited the family. Before reach>
ing the Finley farm the party called on DR..
a. Il. Westbrook. of Ashley who had been
called to attend the mother, and learned from
him that the half had not been told. DR..
Wcstbrook 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 no. deter the party. They Immediately
entered the yard. and on reaching the front
door of the dwelling, they we're met hs Mr..
Finley. (the tathcI,) and gentleman who
appeared to be acting as his aid-de camp. who
informed the party that they would be admit
ted to see the show on the payment of twenty
five cents each. The professor promptly
forked over and the party stepped in. In a
few minutes tile nurse made her appearance
with the wonder. A double child was ex>
h:bited. Two perfectly formed heads, one on
either end of the spinal column. To give
clearer idea. suppose That you sever the bodies
of two men at the lower 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 Lit
tie, the clothing was taken from it, and crit
ical examination was made, SO far could be
without doing injury. From the occiput of
one child to the occiput of the other there is
a continuous spine. in 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, impertectly formed leg,
presenting the appearance of the consolidation
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 we'll formed head, good features,
good chest, good arms aud 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 the bowels, the bladder, and,
perhaps, the kidneys are in common. All the
other organs are separated. 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-
distance from each head. 1t nurses we'll at
both ends and. when first exhibited to the
party, one child was asleep and the other was
crying. While the physicians were making
their examination, both cried, but few min
utes 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 nearest that head, kicked and drew
up while the leg nearest the other head re-
mained quiet. When either cried, the toes
on the imperfect foot would move, but the
limb remained stationary. Both heads nurse
well. and the child, or rather children, are in
excellent health. The physicians 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 Importance 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
agreement with gentleman for the sale of
the body if it should die. Price fixed is SlO,-
900. Negotiations are in progress for its ex-
hibition, 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 un-
larned man, but has sense enough not to be
fooled out of it,