The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-09-18
Il Study for the Doctors.
REMARKABLE CASE OF ARRESTED DEvEL-
OPNENT.

oPNENT.
One of the most singular cases of lusus
nature ever known has just come to the
attention Of the public near Forestville,
Chautauque county, y. Y, and should the
subject live, there seems good reason to
expect, will afford an opportunity for inves-
LEGATION and study by the medical profess
sion that it's members will not be slow to
improve. Many singular cases of arrested
development are recorded, and nature has
at times played very curious freaks with
human kind, but there have certainly been
few cases that equal this in its interest to
the profession, or that will be regarded with
more interest by the public. 1t is, briefly,
a living child, now three weeks old, perfect
in external form and DEVELOPMENTS, but
with it's heart absent from its normal posi-
tion. Directly below the breast bone in
front is protrusion of the nature of a rup-
cure, and above this is the heart, covered
only by thin membrane, plainly visible
and susceptible Of being lifted by:the hand
outside. The organ itself is the usual size,
and performs all the functions that pertain
to it correctly, its action being normal and
the pulsations and respiration Of the child
being regular and healthy.
The child is the son of Archibald Null
kins and wife, and was born August % last.
( The parents live about two miles northeast
of Forestville, are in comfortable circum-
stances and in good health. 1t weighed at
birth six and one half pounds, takes it's
food, sleeps well, and is as comfortable and
as quie: as children of that age usually are.
1t has been visited by number of eminent
physicians, and is in charge of DIR. G.. w.
Carpenter. All pronounce j: a very singu
lar case indeed, and one of them, whom a
reporter of the Buffalo Express called on,
accounts for it in this way: 1t is case of
| arrested development, occurring in an en-
tirely new quarter. He says part of the
diaphragm and all the abdominal muscles
! in that region. are wanting, as well as the
fascia aud natural skin. 1t is not likely
that the child can live great length of
time, Notwithstanding it has every appear
ance OF health at present. The child is
said to have been still born and artificially
reeuscitated. DIR. A. =. Parsons, physi-
clan of local prominence, has made ste
thoscopic examination, and reports the
result rs follows:
September 1874, 1 examined the male
child of Mr. a. Mulkins which presents
the remarkable phenomena of having the
heart upon the outside of the chest and in
plain view. The sternum terminates alb
ruptly, and is rather shorter than natural.
At the lower terminus is an opening in the
skin, muscles and integnments, about three
! inches in length and two and one halfinches
! wide, TIN ough which the heart Urotrudes,
{
! which IS very transparent, and hnder my
nagnifying glass tie appearance was truly
wonderful. The systole and diastole are
! perfect, giving the blood its proper uniform
Circulation or impetus. The left pulmonary
/ artery is plainly seen crossing in front of
/ the descending aorta. The ductus artcrio-
/ sus acts as a ligarnent between the pulmofI-
ary artery and the aorta. The entrances to
/ the superior vena cava Is well marked.-
The right pulmonary artery is visible in one
! part only. The heart is perfect in form,
J well .propor'ioned, and firm in texture rs
4 could be expected in child not three weeks
! old. The stethoscopic examination OF the
lungs indicates n normal condition both in
! development and position and there is moth
! ing in the action of either heart or lungs to
/ indicate the unnatural position. When the
/ child is crying the heart will expand to
! nearly twice its ordinary size. The stomach
. and liver perform their functions properly.
! 1t is growing finely, and appears healthy
/ takes nourishn freely; not very worri-
! some; and sleeps well. The parents are
/ healthy, ard cause can be assigned for
any material influence, except 81 fan about
! two months previous to confinement. 1t is
/ primipara and maic.