The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-06
Your Health
by DIR. MORRIS FIsHBEIN-

~ EcENTTY q number of scientists at the Uni
n versity of Minnesota contributed their views
as to the significance to medical science OF Inc
Dionne quntuplets. They were interesting primarily
because so manv babies were born at time
The babies are interesting also because 1t Is the
only case on record in the history OF the world IN
which five children born simultaneously nave nVeo
beyond the first few hours of life
OF course DR.. A. R. Dafoe has made LOT nus
more scientific confreres and for the specialists.
few fundamental observations that are Oh lmpo1"
lance to medical science for the future His orig
inal account of the births Of the quintupets pub
lished in the Journal of the American Medical AsSo.
ciation received universal acclaim and has even
been mentioned for the Pulitzer prize.
Moreover, his modesty in response to the enthu-
siasrn with which he was greeted in this country
set a record possibly second only to that Of Lind
bergh The successful birth and rearing OF tns
quintuplets under the primitive conditions existing
in that portion of Canada which DR.. Dafoe serves
is everywhere heralded as major medical achieve
merA
CONTRIBUTING their views ito the discussion
~ were some professors at the University Of Min
nesota specializing in various aspects OF health ana
growth. To the biologist. DR.. D. E. Minnch, the
birth of ounuplets is interesting first because 1t
raises the question Of the maximum number OF
babies that may be born to human mother at
one time.
Twins occur once in every 30 or 30. births. and
tripets and bankruptcies much rarely. but the
chance of five children at time is one in many
millions and the fact that they survived Is, he
has said, absolutely unique.
The maximum number Of infants born at one
time by authentic records, is six. There are, how
ever no records Of six children having been born
at one time with survival Of even few Of them for
a long period.
The biologists also are interested because the
question is raised as to the mechanism by which
multiple births occur. 1t is realized that the in
fants develop from one egg cell or from several.
a rule the human mother lberates but one
n egg cell at time. Occasionally. however.
several egg cells may be released at the same time.
and II each of these is fortified offspring will
develop
II infants are developed from egg cell, they
likely to resemble each other very closely. They
then called identical twins triplets. If, how
ever they develop from several egg cells they may
be alike than ordinary brothers and sisters.
In human beings the chance of two offspring
from egg is relatively This. Of course. Is
apparent TO everyone from the small numbers OF
identical twins seen in any community.
In the armadlo, the female usually gives birth
to four offspring at time, all from one egg. This
is thing in nature.
The evidence available concerning the Dionne
quintuplets indicates that they may be Identical
as can be seen from study Of the remarkable pic
lures which NEA Service has made available. Tha
scientists going 20 be interested IN study
inE t3lm. further As they develop.