Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-05-30
A WONDERFUL PHENOMENON.
An Infant Whose Skull Reflects Light Enough to
Bead Rv.


S[From the New York Journal.l
The expression that it is possible Sc to
see through some people," is almost
literally fulfilled in the case of a male in
FAINT. &c months old, the son OF Mrs.
Mary Cannady, Of No. 90 Bowery.
Yesterday afternoon Journal report
er saw this phenomenon, and found it
to be healthy infant, whose head is
semi transparent, and reflects with al
most incredible intensity the light of a
lamp, gas, or any other illuminating
power that may be placed near 1t. So
strong is this radiance that its head,
when exposed within full light of the
sun, will cast q reflection similar IN some
respects TO a pinkish opalescence.
Several experiments were made yes
te1day IN the presence of the reporter.
The child was taken into a darkened
room: s lamp was held near the back Of
its skull and the reflected light was so
clear that through its forehead the
frontal division of the skull, and the
veins and arteries of the interior portion
of the head were distipctively observ-
able. Upon placing the hand upon the
forehead the infant felt DO pain nor in
convenience of any kind, and as the
lamp was moved in various directions so
also was the light reflected at an exactly
opposite angle.
Perhaps the most singular feature of
this extraordinary case is that the child's
eyes are only partially observable, the
upper portions of tie pupils being alone
d1stinguishable. Yet the infant sees
plainly and notes what is taking place.
The reflection already referred to is not
merely confined to the brain, but also
applies to the eye-cells or sockets, two
distinct balls Of light appearing visible
under Illuminating power.
The head of the child, from measure
ment taken by the reporter, is q inches
round the temples; from the base of the
forehead to the crown, II inches from
ear to ear, measured from the top of the
head. Is inches, and from temple to
temple, II inches This infant's weight
is about thirty-fve pounds. Its flesh is
healthy and firm, of good color and very
plump. It has plentiful crop of beau
tiful golden hair, which IS unusually
heavy for so young a child.
In an interview with the mother, Mrs.
Cannady said: "My baby was born in
Wayne County, West Virginia. When
about weeks old I first noticed the Pc
culiar reflection given from its head when
light was applied. At birth the top OF
the head was perfectly fat, but gradually
developed IN shape until 1t is now as you
see 1t. When z months old It's head
measurement was III inches, but it has
not grown any within the past year. The
power Of reflection may be imagined,
though you may doubt my statement
when I tell you that its head being placed
near q calcium light threw an nlumina-
ton upon a portion of a newspaper
strong enough to make the type perfect
" d1stinguishable." From what the re-
porter saw, this statement is perfectly
credible.
Do you give 1t any special diet9''
No. twill eat everything that 9TH
er children of its age usually eat, such
as vegetables, milk, meat and eggs.
Frankly is generally very good tempered
and except that he is scarcely strong
enough to support the weight Of his
head, he Id ether respects remarkably
strong child"
The mother is an intelligent, good
looking brunette, and takes much pride
IN explaining the peculiarities of he1
wonderful baby.
IT. 1luaKazs Vi W0st 1ulr6y -SoNSlHUa
Street, called to see the infant phenome
non during the afternoon. He pro-
nounced the novelty to be case OF
chronic hydroeephalus, only one in
stance of the kind having been recorded
and that was In 1911. Sc It is absolute
ly the most wonderful freek of nature ]
ever saw" he remarked, "and is simply
case of an extraordinary amount of wa
ter pressure, which accounts for the re-
Election. What astonishee me is that
the child should be so perfectly free
from any other ailHent. Il never saw
anything to equal it of the kind, but il
is impossible to say whether the infant
will live many years. 1t is possible that
the size of the head may diminish,
but whether it survives or not, it is an
extraordinary case"