Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-11
A CLEAR.HEADED CHILD.
The Light of Lamp Visible Through n
MOnsir ousIy-Developed Occiput.

A remark able freak of nature arrived 10
this city yesterday in the way Of child
which has managed 10 live Tor seventeen
months without that bony dome OF thought
which is regarded as essential to continued
existence. Moreover, the child seems to
have no need for a brain, If the eyes may be
believed, for in the absence of a skull, the
head is translucent and almost transparent
while the aid OF lamp properly held, it
may be perceived that the brain cavity is
filled with colorless fluid. Nothing exists in
this serum that can be perceived. The head Is
larger than the body the increase OF size being
almost entirely above the temples, and meas
ures twenty-seven inches around. The lower
face is perfect, and the child would be pretty
but for the monstrous development. The
rapid growth OF the upper head has drawn
the skin until the eyelid will not close, and
the eyebaIls are pulled TO an inch at least
above the normal position. When an En-
quirer reporter visited the child yesterday, II
was asleep, and It's mother would not allow
it to be awakened for experiments. A rather
dim coal sill lamp was placed behind the
monstrous head, and CLEANED through it as
though the skin formed the only obstacle 10
the light. The veins upon the forehe ad and
the locks OF hair upon the back OF The head
make the only shadows, as was proved by
moving the lamp. The light behind
interior, being as perceptible upon the
.ide as the front of the occiput
Ii ia claimed tn at when the child is awake the
tight of lamp sunlight falling upon the
back OF the head is even more plainly seen
through The eye-balls or the nosiriis, or
through the ears when placed al one side.
This remarkable head is covered with an
abundant growth OF auburn, silky mar. lhe
child has every appearance, except IN the
color of the skin, of good health. 1t l.
fully developed, very plump, and is said to
be strong, while it has good appetite. 1n
all it's abits it is regular, and like any other
child. That it should have progressed so
far as to be weaned maintaining good health,
and should have reached the teething period,
is one of the wonders OF physiology. lis
senses are said to be perfect and acute, aud
it possesses enough of intelligence to smile
family when tickled, and to recognize food
when it sees it. When the child
was born it was known as "the
headless baby" as it seemed cut of
above the ears on line sloping toward the
nape OF the neck, while wrinkled skin coy
cred the top. 1t suffered greatly, and its lie
was preserved with difficulty. At three or
four weeks of age The skin began TO I'LL out,
when the child's suferings ceased and 1t en-
loved good health. The growth has been con-
slant since. The child suffers no pain and
only the inconvenience of being unable 10 sill
up, in consequence of its deformity. The
extension of the skin is such that it does no,
yield as readily to the>touch as might be ex-
pected from Its appearance yet the child
does no. seem to experience any trouble from
this, and was sleeping as sweetly yesterday
as apybody's cherub. This child was born
20, 1881, on Beech Ford OF Twelve:
Pole creek, Wayne county, w. Va. 1t Is OF
the male sex, and is known as Frankly Can
ady. The mother is stopping at the Globe
Hotel, corner Of Court and Walnut street.