The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-07
THE DOUBLE BABY.
Scientific Examination and Lecture by
DIR. F. Getcheli. of Jefferson Medical
College.

The very curious and interesting double
baby was made the subject of a scientific ex-
animation and lecture In Philadelphia, on
Thursday, at the jefferson Medical College.
| DR.. +. Gelchell, who delivered the lecture,
had examined tile child ut the museum, and
felt 80 much interested in it that he procured
| nermiss!on to Introduce 1t before the faculty
of the college and medical students. The
| child was brought into the amphitheatre OF
| Tie college in a little crib, nicely adapted 10
its peculiar form. The crib was then placed
,ont the revolving table,. In full view Oh lne
andienes. the body OF The child being covered
bv. neat bed-clouhing. At each end CT the bed
was q bright anil pretty little face, one being
pllmp and cheerful, and the other looking
a little thin. Both, however, We're. very
~sprightiy'. -
As the two faces Hay N the crib, they gave
the idea OF two very short babies lying with
their heods in opposite directions anu lnelr
leetip contact. And this idea was strengthen
ed by the tact that while one face was laugh
ing and one set OF hands were playing with Dr;
Gelcheli's pencil, The face at the otheB end
wore quite q sedate EXPRESSION, anu Ills eyes
were looking about in &c seeming Wonderment at
the movements Of the lecturer ana ms asSls.
tants. Subsequently the ehild-orr rather that
end ofthe double child-ghich had oeen lausn.
inc and playing, hurt itself with. a key Which 1t
hadjn its hands. and began to cry, while the
face Of the other end began TO laugh.
When the clothing was removed, the TWO
heads and two sets of arms and hands were
found to be attached to one body and Joined
together, Just as If two separate babies were
cut through the middle and abdomen, Just az
the waist, and then the two upper halves
united at that point. There Is a fully. deVel-
oued set of shoulders TO each head, aud a
ttilly developed chest or throat to each; put
from the breast or chest at one end, to the
breast or chest at the other, there is only one
trunk. On one side; The left side OF the
plump baby, Just where the waist OF tne Two
come together, there are two hips and TWO
well.formed legs, extending at a right angle
from the sody, like extended arms. These look
as if the lower halt OF one OF the babies, from
the middle of the abdomen down, mad grown
out of that side, and this part OF the body
performs the functions for both heads ana
the half bodies attached. On the other side,
also extending from the waist at the right
angle, is q long eXcresence, composed oil Inc
bones and toes Of two other legs. enclosed 10
one skin, and having the appearance Of one
deformed leg.
The photographs and other published pic
lures give q very fair idea OF the Child, except
as to the two bright, pretty faces which 1t Is
a great pleasure to look a.. 1t is the only eX-
hibited curiosity We have ever seen that has
not been exaggerated In the description OF IT.
In this case Inc simple truth and facts are SO
strong that there Is no room for exaggggeratlon.
Dr.. Getchell states that the child was porn IN
Miami County, ohio, October .l2tn, lofo.