The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-02-28
HOW'S THIS FOR A FREAK.
A CHILD WHO HAS THE TRUNK OF An
ELEPHANT.
A Baby Whose Upper Lip Is Shaped Like
a Trunk and Which II Uses Freely
to Feed Itself With.
Memphis Avalanche.

Memphis Avalanche.
A remarkable story of a freak
of nature is reported from DeS0tO
county, Miss, %hich has startled
and amazed the citizens of The To-
cality where 1t occurred, to which
the medical fraternity can scarce
ly find parallel in The annals Of
their profession.
About eight months ago child
was born to the wife of young
farmer named John Brickell. 1t
was the first born and the parents
were proportionately happy. The
youngsler was well developed
male infant, but there was NAL
formation about The upper lip
which overhung the lower lip sew
eral INCHES.
1t not only gave The child sim
gular appearance, but II greatly
disconnected il in taking its natn-
raj nourishmenl. The eXtraneOuS
portion OF The lip, however, was
soft and flexible, and the mother
conlliyed 10 hold ii aside as The
child nulsed, and no physician was
consulted at that time III regard tn
il.
The lip, however, continued TO
grow apace until it was found To
he impossible TO nurse the child
longer, and il had TO be fed with a
spoon, as, on account OF the pecu
liar formation of the lip, il was
unable to suck milk from bottle.
A physician who does not wish
his name published because he Is
afraid of being arraigned Tor vio-
laring the code of ethics of the Tri-
State Medical Association, was
called IN, aud his opinion asked as
10 the feasibility OF amDutaling it,
he decided that The child'S life
would probably pay The penalty Of
the attempt, and he declined to do
it.
The lips at this time descended
below the chin, it was of The thick
ness and shape of the neck OF a
bottle, and the child could move ii
from side TO side, and up and down
at will. AT The tip it had two
openings like nostrils and it began
to assume the appearance OF an
elephants trunk on a miniature
scale.
When it had reached the age OF
five months it was observed that
The excresence had become pre-
hensible, and the child would seize
with it any small article within
reach.
1t would take up IFS baby rattle
and shake il, just as it would with
its hand, and If anything ealable
was placed in it, it was conveyed
straightway TO the mouth.
This turned 10 good account. As
the trunk grew it became Difficult
to feed The child even with a spoon
and the only way to do was to lay
its head back and pour the milk IN
its throat. Even then the trunk
would frequently be in the way,
and the child, toH, had acquired a
playful habit of whacking away
with its trunk, and slapping the
face of whoever was attending IT,
and it had acquired such a size aud
strength that The blows so struck
were extremely painful.
After some little trouble the
child was taught to take a bottle
inIls hunk aud convey il to lis
mouth, neck downward, and take
| its nourishment in that way, and
Tor the last two months all Of ITS
food and drink has been admins
tered in that manner.
The yOungster is now eight
months old, and the trunk extends
downward onto its breast and Is
! still growing. II any object Is in
reach ol one Of lis hands II uses the
hand, bat If in reach Of the lrunki
that member is brought into requi-
siiiOn.