The Republican journal., 1870-11-24
FREAK OF NATURE.

DELAWARE Ohio, Oct. II,
Our community is much excited over a
freak Of nature in the production of a double
baby. The Samese twins are completely
overshadowed bv this infant wonder. There
is living in Peru township. Morrow County,
Il family named Finley. p to last Wednes
day morning it consisted of Mr.. Joseph Fin
ley. 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 q manner
unknown to 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 professional and
pronounced good hoax. 4 A gentleman liv-
ing in the vicinity of the Finley home called
on one of our physicians and assured him
that there was no eNaggeration in the descrip-
ton, as he had seen the wonder Convinced
that there was something in the case, party
OF gentleman consisting of Drs. j. A. Little
and T. B. Williams, W. o. Seamens, pro-
lessor OF natural history and chemistry in the
Ohio Wesleyan University and S. X Donavin,
on the 10th inst. visited the family. Before
reaching the Finley farm the party called on
Dr.. +. A. Westbrook, of Ashley, who had
been called to attend the mother, and learned
from him that the half had not been told DR..
Westbrook accompanied the party. An hours
drive brought them to the place. On going
to the gate leading to the yard, a written no.
tee 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 We're met by Mr.. Finley the
tather) and gentleman who appeared to be
acting as his aidde-camp, who informed the
party they could be admitted to see show on
| the payment OF TWENTY-FIVE cents each The
professor promptly forked over and the party
stepped in. In a few minutes the nurse made
her appearance with the wonder A double
child was exhibited. Two perfectly formed
heads, one oneither end of the spinal column.
10 give clear idea of it, just suppose that
you sever the bodies of two men at the low
er 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. Will
liams and Little the clothing was taken from
it, and Il critical examination was made as
far as could be, without injury. From the
occiput of one child to the occiput Of the
other there is a continuous spine in Il 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, imper-
fectly formed leg, presenting the appearance
Of the consolidation of two legs, There are
toes on this limb, two OF which have the ap-
lpearance of great toes, being much larger
than The others. Each has well formed
head, good features, good chest, good AIMS
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
the bowels, the bladder. and perhaps the
kidneys, are in common All the other or
gans are separate.
There was but one umbilical cord and
one placenta. The length of the body is
twenty inches, and the umbilicus is central to
the abdomen, and equi-distant 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 eXamina-
tons, both cried, but a few minutes after
, the one that was crying first went to sleep
while the other remained awake When
either head would cry, the perfect leo which
was nearest to that head remained quiet
When either cried, the toes on the Imperfect
foot would move, but the limb remained sta
:, tonary. 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 mothe1
is doing we'll. There were no physician
present at the birth, and the labor pains last
ed only fifteen minutes.
), Mr. Finley il alive to the Importance an,
e value of this addition to his family He i
: now charging gate money, and he informc,
C the writer that he had already entered int
S articles of agreement with a gentleman TO
g the sale of the body, if 1t should die. Prize
e fixed is $4,000. Negotiations are in pro
1t gress for its exhibition if it lives He i
= convinced that there is money in it, dead 0
e alive, but thinks there is most in the latte
/ condition. He says that he is conscious o
y the fact that he ''is an unlearned man, bu
e has sense enough not to be fooled out Of it
l. 1t is certainly one Of the most eNraorlina
t, ry freaks, if not the most so, which has eve
1t occurred, and will certainly attract great At
e tention from the medical profession at least
re Drs. Williams and Little are we'll known t
of the brothers, DR.. Davis, and many othe
1t physicians of your city.
o close by asking, where il the Carli
rs Giant now?' "DAsil.n
y A CAPITAL .ToKE and III tha N, ora ma Ia "a Il