Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-08-09
sath OF the Double Children---A
Remarkable Event.

GFrom the Delaware (O.) Gazette.I
Knowing that your numerous read
ers will be anxious to hear something
in regard TO the wonderful double
child's death, 1 send you the follow.
ing hasty and imperfect statement:
Their death presented a strange ap-
pearanee, and excited the curiosity and
pity Of all present. They were nine
months and six days old, and died at
Temple House, No. Is BOwdOin street,
Boston, Massachusetts,, July Is, 1871.
They had always enjoyed excellent
health from their birth until July 4,
when on exhibition in Newark, New
Jersey, Minnie showed signs of ILL
ness, and had q severe attack of chole-
"a infantum, and came near death, to
all appearance, andremained so about
three days, when she commenced re-
covering very rapidly. This sickness
seemed to affect Minnie but very little
at the time, but about the 1lth instant
Minnie was attacked with continual
vomiting, which was very difficult to
manage, and this tendency to Osickness
at the stomach continued more or
less until about eight O'Clock ii the
morning Of the 18th, when she had
several light cOnvulsions, after which
she sank gradually until thiTty-five
minutes past four in the ever
ing, when she breathed her last, and
the heart belonging to her stopped
beating. She was dead, to all appear
ance, without 3 struggle, and looked
as if sleeping pleasantly, in which she
remained one hour and forty-five
minutes, when she commenced gasp
ing for breath, and artificial means
were resorted to to restOI respiration.
This gasping continued at short inter-
walls until fifteen minutes past seven
o'clock, when she gave the last gasp.
After this, Nina, who had been per-
fectly well, to all appearance, until
Minnie stopped breathing, showed
signs of uneasiness and continued
sinking very rapidly, and died at S:15
just one hour from the time that Min
ME gave the last gasp for breath
They both died very easy, and looked
as if going into pleasant sleep, and
never gave struggle, and now they
are quiet and lovely to look upon in
death, as they always were in life
The two souls have passed from the
one body to the God that gave them
this truly wonderful and curious
body.
They apparently escaped the Ordi-
nary suffering incident to death, for
the eountenances had the expression
of sweet repose. Through the infiu-
ence of myself and several of the
leading physicians of Boston, we had
a fine plaster cast taken of the child, |
which have duplicated at any time |
for the benefit of science. After this
we had a DOst-nlortem examination,
which revealed many wonderful Curl |
osities, both in anatomy and physiolo-
gy, a full account of which will be |
shortly given in the Boston Medical |
and Surgical Journal.
The exciting cause of their death |
was a cystic abdominal tumor, weigh
ing three pounds and six ounces. 1 |
may, at some future time, give you |
more detailed account of this wonder |
full BEINGS life as well as its death.
Yours, very respectfully,
H. BEssE, NJ. D.
The Delaware Gazette says editori- |
ally: DIR. Beese reached his home in /
this place on Saturday evening last.
The post R1OrteDl examination, at /
which he assisted, developed the fact |
that the connection of the vispera in |
the two bodies-if we may so speak
Of two opposite sections or ends of the ]
place by inte1unction Of
The intestines just abaye the colon,
which organ is not duplicated but is
common for both infants. There was
also but one womb and one bladder,
the latter being the receptacle of two
different ureters. Above the colon
Ill the organs were duplicated and
perfect as in any well developed hu-
man being.
The body Of the children was care
'ully embalmed and put into a casket
alcohol, and having glass
acings, which afford a good view Of
he body, which is well preserved. In
he easkst the child looks natural and
appears as if in repOse, 1t has been
brought by the parents to their home
bear Ashley, where it yet remains
Fhs Boston, Medical Society offered
tx thousand dollars for it, but the
,ffer has been declined. Probably
lot less than ten thousand dollars
would induce the parents to part with
he treasure.
-O-