The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-03
THE JONES GIRLS FREAK.
How the Twins Impress the Medical Fraterni.
ty in Their NeighbOrhoOd.
special to the 1ndianapol,. Journm

Special to the Indianapolis Journa
kOKOMO, July 2. - The Jones girls"
freak continues the reigning sensation of
the hour. The inseparable twins are now
nine days old, and apparently have as firm
a hold on life as any infant of their age.
The peculiar formation of the little won
ders has been heretofore furnished. Their
fame has extended widely, and, notwith-
standing the oppressive heat and frequent
showers, over two thousand people visited
the scene of the birth, last Sunday, to see
the human monstrosity. The mother is a
spare-built little woman, just turned nine
teen. with nothing extraordinary in her
physical appearance, and with no peculiari-
ties of ancestry. Nooccurrence during the
period OF CESSATION is remembered
by the mother that could in any manner
account for the deformity. Both father
and mother were greatly distressed over
the unfortunate birth, though they now ac-
cept the situation with cheerfulness, as the
children have a promise of life without
physical suffering. Mrs. Weaver, the mid
wife, who was the mothers only attendant
at the birth, says she had No clothing on
hand adapted for the purpose, and declares
them the hardest youngsters to tit In her
fifty years experience, Should the won
derful twins live, colossal fortune awaits
the parents. Already they have received
tempting offers from museum proprie-
tors in Chicago and Cincinnati.
Museum proprietOrs from the former city
are now here to try to secure the double
baby for exhibition.
Owing to the great crush of sight-seers it
was deemed best to exclude visitors, and
no one Is now admitted to their presence.
Thls action was Imperative. as the excite
ment caused by the great influx of strangers
was having injurious effects both on mother
and children. 1t is the purpose of the
parents, as soon as the little nondescripts
have arrived at sufficient age. to make an
exhibition tour of the country. The medi-
cal and scientific journals of the country
are all giving the freak prominent notices.
and they will be thoroughly advertised.
The parents live on small farm fifteen
miles from this city, and are industrious.
hard.working people.
A delsgatISn ton OF physicians e'n consisting Of Of
Wright. NJ. 6. Watkins. A. J. Bates and
DR.. Beale. visited the freak Thursday aft
ernoOD. The result of their examinations
was presented by DR.. ThOrDe as follows:
tion-that has already been gwen several
times better than l am able to give it-but
/ will try to correct some of the errors and
contradictions that have been published.
The freak represents twin birth, each
child having an entirely separate and lnde-
pendent organism, and each representing a
marked defOnnity, besides the deformity
that excites the wonder and pity of every
one that sees it-that of Icing inseparably
joined together. The deformity con-
of the spine. and body, each toward
the left. the DETECTION being sufficient to
bring the line of the pelvis and lower ex-
tremlties to right angle with the body, so
that the legs belonging to each child, re-
spectively. are thetwo to the left side of the
body. That this condition is the true
one is proven by the position of the outlets
OF the allmentary canal, the bladder and
generative organs. These outlets are a.
ways through the pelvis, and that they are
at the sides of the body in proper relation
to the limbs is sufficient to prove that this
is the line of the pelvis, and thai the spine
is not continuous from one head to the
other. Observing the motions of one child,
it was seen in q tit of restlessness to throw
its arms and kick with the feet only of one
side, the other child being asleep at the
time and perfectly quiet. The soles of the
feet are directed Outwards, or away from
knee joint, and the patella, or knee cap, is
on the side of the knee toward the body"
The following account of a subsequent
visit is furnished by DR.. /. A. Cooper: 'Fri-
day evening several physicians. accompa-
MED by their wives, drove to the scene of
the noted Jones twin birth. On entering
the gate we met Mr.. Jones, the grandfather,
who ushered US into the bedroom where
lay the mother and twins on one bed. They
had just nursed and one already fallen to
heels in mid-air: apparently inviting play
as infants much older do. They are evil
IDENTIFY little subject to precocity. Upon
physical examination, first of the anterior
region, we found apparently one continu-
Gus abdomen with one umbilicus, centrally
located. But closer investigation con-
vinced us that there existed distinct and
separate abdominal and pelvic viscera.
Posteriorly. we found the spinal column to
be perfectly yIn normal or d terminating in a
proximating its fellow of the op- %
posite side to an inch and one-ha1f
Laterally. OF upon side, centrally at
tached, are the inferior extremities
the outlets for the abdomen and peivis
The legs are placed one on each side and
not both on one side as has been asserted.
In substantiation of our theory and refu-
tatiOn of any other we simply refer the
"First-The thighs fiex upon the abdomen,
the legs upon the thighs. and extend hori-
zOntally to the body the same as any other
baby. which would not be the case If both
legs were on one side. For then the
f1exiOn and extension would be at right
angles to the body, or crosswise.
''Second-We have stated that the spinal
column is normal, which condition could
not exist if the legs were both on one side I;
for then the pelvic bones, including the
lower part of the spinal column tsacrnm
and coccy xl would necessarily be contorted
80 as to conform to this condition, which is
not the case. Again we have already
stated that one baby was sleeping while
the other was awake and kicking the legs
of the latter being placed one on each side,
respectively, as Indicated by its move
ments."
Steamship News.
LONDON, July 2.-Arrived: Elbe, from