The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-11-18

had been somewhat TaFious and in.
definite, and that many had doubts
Of their truth; therefore, I had come
to get, if possible, the full particu.
lars, and, if 1 could, convey them in
a manner that would seem reliable
and authoritative. She said that a
good many misstatements bad been
made, and that one or two of the
communication she had seen did
not show much polish in the writer's.
1 asked her if the children playing
in the room were her own. She told
me they were. There we're three Of
them-the oldest being eleven years
old, the others Il have limited at
their bright, healthy and attractive
look four and two years Of age re-
spectively.
1 suppose, Of course, you want to
then said.
"1es, came especially to see the
baby" answered.
swell, I will get this one n sleon
first" she said; "then You can sex
them"
With this she took the baby n
use the singular noun for convent
ence, letting it convey plurality of
idea at the readers pleasure) upon
her lap, laying its sleeping head on
her right knee and soothing the
other on her left. Presently this lat
ter head became quiet, and, remOv-
ing a part of the body-Wrapping, the
mother invided US to see it. Now
for
TIE BABT THEMSELVES.
Yes, here they were. The baby sciU
be plural 1t is, perhaps, difficult to
describe or realize them. (Just at
this moment the two pair Of eyes
were opened, and the two heads were
awake. But imagine two we'll
shaped heads, at opposite extremi-
ties, with delicate growth of dark
hair showing itself on each; the fore
heads nicely proportioned, and indi-
eating more than average infant in
telleet; eyes dark and bright,already
indicating the early spirit Of inquf-
sition at moving lights or other OBJ
jects-taking notice, as the phrase
is. Imagine these heads properly
adjusted on well-proportiOned necks,
and each of the latter based upon
perfect shoulders, with perfect arms
and perfect breasts, all of the usual
development and proportion, below.
From each head downward every
thing is according to the wanted
formation Of nature, until, from each
direction, the center of the figure Is
reached. There are two distinct
human beings up to this point
each having individual existence,
each having a brain and nervous sys-
tenn Of its own, with separate heart,
lungs, stomach, bowels and other
vital organs. At the center the two
are one flesh indeed. Here, at the
widest part eff the body is one navel.
through which, before birth, both the
distinct lives drew sustenance. There
is no mark of union here, however,
no more than there is at the same
place on any human body between
its upper and lower portions. But
on the back is a well indicated and
perfect spine, running straight be-
tween the two heads, from neck to
heck, and at its eenter-opposite the
navel in tront-are two distinct ossa
sacra, each indicating the termins-
ton Of the spine from its particular
direction, but both joined together.
Opposite the center, on one side is
protruded a deformed double leg,
having two femoral bones and two
thigh joints, but stiff at the knee,
and movable at the will Of either in
dividual, or by both at once. On
the opposite side from the center are
put forth two distinct legs, Of Gus
tomary proportions and shapely; but
are not of mutual use-one belongs
to and is movable by the one indi-
vidual life, and one belongs exclu-
sively to and is movable by the
other. Here, at this central point
each individual nervous life ceases;
while the visible feshly union be-
comes even more strangely and mys.
teriously an invisible union. Here
the two children flor there are Ger
tainly two) have become one female
child, with all the distinctions ofsex
complete and perfect. Here nothing
is deformed. And here the two cor
poreal systems are ministered to and
have their common exits through the
same urethra and the same rectum.
Above the meeting place Of the two
perfect lege is the Os pubs, in its
proper position with roforonoe to
them. In their proper places, too,
and well developed, are the glUtei;
there is, also a perfect pelvis, and
Nature, here in fact, as in the indi-
vidual heads and breasts on either
hand (sbove or below, according to
ones standpoint, has insisted on
her general rule, from which this
strange production is one of the
most remarkable of known excep-
tions.
/ may just here protest against the
popular designation of this wonder
full birth as a double-headed child.
1t is not a double-headed child.
There are two children here, two
persons, two souls, using, from some
accidental or extraordinary economy
of Nature, one body. The two faces
arc so nearly AXE that, but for the
fact that one child has been little
ailing and is somewhat thinned tenn
porarily, even the mother can not
distinguish between them. But that
their lives are distinct is shown by
their waking and sleeping separate
| ly, by the apparent sensitiveness to
pain of one while the other is at ease
and comfortable-in every way that
| lives are shown to be individual and
distinct, except by the .wondrous
bond of flesh under which, apparent
ly in perfect health, they live, move
and have their being now, and, ac-
cording to reasonable belief, may
continue to do so indefinitely.
THE MOTHERS EXPERIENCE AND FEEL
INGs.
Mrs. Finley was asked by one Of
those present if she knew Of any
thing prior to the children's birth
to which could be attributed in any