The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-03-06
TWO BOYS IN ONE.
\ PHENOMENON UNPRECEDENTED IN
THE ANNALS OF PHYSIOLOGY.

THE ANNALS OF PHYSIOLOGY.
"Would you like to see a curious
case that has puzzled the doctors2'
asked DR.. BertinelIi, OF Rutherford
place, Of Mercury reporter. al
you care for the strange and curious
in natural science, step into my bug.
gy and go along with me-" The re-
porter accepted the invitation and
was driven to No. 1J2 EIlridge
street. "Here is my subject" said
the doctor, pointing to stout lad of
seven years old who was one Of sew
cral boys playing together. The
doctor then beckoncd the boy to
come to him. Then the party of
three entered the house. Here they
were met by the mother Of the boy,
a woman Of about thirty eight, strong
and vigorous in form, and with
speech showing German origin-ap-
parently q hard working woman
The boy came forward now to the
doctor, walking with singular
shambling gait. The doctor reques
ted him to stand up straight. When
theShoy did so ,one foot would not
touch the floor except the toe. A
close look at the boy revealed the
singular fact that one half Of the
body was wholly unlike the other.
The right half was much the largest.
Further examination disclosed the
fact that this division Of the body
was precisely as if two halves, one
large and, one smaller, had been
Joined together, and then had con
tined growing ia that way. The boy
appeared to accommodate himself
readily to this condition of his body.
although the stronger half was eau
tinualIy. asserting its superiority.
The right foot stepped out first with
"a sort ofjelk hringing the other at
ter it. So the right hand had queer
way of not only helping itself but
helping the left hand. IF suddenly
called, the boy would start off side.
ways, the right half seeming to sst
independently for itself. After a
half dozen rapid steps the left half
would be allowed to catch up with
its more rapid brother.
Beginning at the top ofhoy'a head,
Dr.. Bertineli opened thick haU to
show how marked the division ofthe
Uranium was. The right half was in
size equal to the average head Of
twelve years; the left half was about
the usual size ola boy Of seven,e ra
sher above than below the average
/ A rough measurement without in
strumenta showed the right half o
the head little more than half ar
inch larger than the left half Yer,
nearly the same proportion woult
bhold if the measurement was made
over the head. The right eye was
larger and fuller than the left. TIL,
right nostril was also larger than TIT
left, indicating that the right lobe 0
the lungs was also the largest. Tn,
right half of the jaw homes, with thel
teeth, were the largest. From indi
cations on the teeth, the doctor sail
the boy could not use the left hap'
teeth. The right teeth being larger
would not permit the left teeth to DE-
much, if anything, in the process o
mastication. The tongue SHOWED
the same marked division. Ever
the palate seemed to be- two odt
halves Of that organ. Yet, strang'
to say, in spite Of this mixture il
the vocal organs, the boys speesl
was perfect. He read and conversee
hoth in English and German with .
readiness and promptness hardly tt
be expected from boy Of sever
years.
A great number Of measurement
were taken, showing continually tina
tue two halves of the boys body re
presented two distinct ages-appar
emily the ages of seven (the real ag
Of the boy) andtwelve years. With
out giving this mass of figures in de
tail, it is sufficient to say that TIL
right arm is nearly two inches longe
than the left, and is with the han
VERY strong and muscular. TIL
same description will apply to til
whole right side and lower limt
Mrs. George Pheifer, the mother
said of her son: "This boy, ALDER
was strong, healthy child at brit
weighing fourteen pounds. Fo
some reason he did not grow at a
l.