The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-12


EXTRAORDINARY FREAK OF NATURE "A correspon-
dent OF the Cincinnati Commercial, writing from
Delaware, Ohio, October 10, relates this marvellous
Our community is much excited over freak of
nature in the production OF a double baby; The
infant wonder There is living in Peru township,
Morrow county, family named Finley. Up to last
wednesday morning 1t consisted OF Mr. Joseph
Finley, his wife Mary and two children, little girls,
aged three and five years. On that morning Mrs.
Finey was confined and gave birth to twins, joined
together in manner unknown to the books. When
the goss1ps brought the news of the event to our
city, and gave descriptions of the child, or rather
children, 1t was laughed at by the professional,
and pronounced good hoax gentleman living
our physicians and assured him that there was no
eXaggeraion in the description, as he had the
wonder. Convinced that there was something in
the case party Of gentlemen consisting OF Drs. j.
A. Little and 4. B. Williams, w. G. Seamens, Pro-
lessor OF Natural History and Chemistry in the Ono
Wesleyan University, and S. X Donovan, the 10Th
inst, visited the family. Before reaching the Finley
farm the party called on Dr. K. E. Westbrook, OF
Ashley, who had been called to attend the mother,
and learned from him that half had not been told.
DR.. Westbrook accompanied the party. An hours
di1Ve I'VE @ brought th them @ 70 the place t or. r,.o
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 aud a gentleman who ap-
peared to be acting as an aidde camp 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 double child was
exhibited. Two perfectly formed heads, one on
either side Of the spinal column
To give clear idea OF it, just 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 in
stance OF Drs. Williams and Little, the clothing
taken from 1t, and critical examination was made,
so far as could be without doing injury. From the
occiput CT one child TO the occiput OF the other
there is a continuous spine, IN a direct line Upon
one side, and directly in the centere OF the trunk
were perfectly developed hips thighs, legs, aud
ether eba on the opposIe sde there is one STge ei
impeTfectiy foImed leg, representing the appear
ance of the consolidation OF two legs. There are
eight toes this limb, two OF which have the ap-
pearance OF great toes being much larger than the
Others Each has well formed head, good fea-
tures good chest, good arms and hands lungs heart
liver, and stomach. The lower portion OF the bow
els, the bladder, and perhaps the kidneys are In
common. All the other organs are separate.
There was but one umbilical cord and one pla-
centa. The length OF the body is twenty inches,
and the umbilicus is central In the abdomen, and
equidistant from each head. 1t nurses well, and,
when first exhibited 10 the party, one child was
asleep and the other was crying. While the physl-
but few moments after, the one which was crying
first went TO sleep, while the other remained awake.
was nearest that head kicked aud drew up while
the leg nearest the other head remained quiet.
When either crted the toes on the imperfect foot
would move but the limb remained stationary. Both
heads nurse WELL and the child, rather children,
are in excellent health The physicians could see
no reason why 1t, or they, should not live. The
mother is doing well.
Mr. Finley is alive TO the Importance aud value of
this addition to his family. He is now Charging
gate money, ana he Informed the writer that he had
already entered into article of agreement with
gentleman for the sale OF the body, II 1t should die
Price fixed is $4,000. Negotiations are In progress
for the exhibition II 1t lives. He is convinced that
thele is money in it, dead or alive, but thinks
there is most in the latter condition. He says that
he is conscious OF the fact that he sis unarned
man, but has sense enough not to be fooled out
| OF it,"
This wonder will be on exhibition at the Museum
and Menagerie for short time, Mr.. Robert II. Smp-
la0 ~ "A
OF per week. TO allow the public TO behold the
| great curiosity,