She was of ordinary height and of fair conformation, with the
exception that hanging from the left flank was the inferior half
of another girl of diminutive proportions. The supernumerary body
was immovable, and hung so heavily that it was said to be
supported by the hands or by a sling. Urine and feces were
evacuated at intervals from the parasite, and received into a
diaper constantly worn for this purpose. Sensibility in the two
was common, an impression applied to the parasite being felt by
the girl. Winslow gives an interesting report of the dissection
of this monster, and mentions that he had seen an Italian child
of eight who had a small head proceeding from under the cartilage
of the third left rib. Sensibility was common, pinching the ear
of the parasitic head causing the child with the perfect head to
cry. Each of the two heads received baptism, one being named John
and the other Matthew. A curious question arose in the instance
of the girl, as to whether the extreme unction should be
administered to the acephalous fetus as well as to the child.
In 1742, during the Ambassadorship of the Marquis de l'Hopital at
Naples, he saw in that city an aged man, well conformed, with the
exception that, like the little girl of Winslow, he had the
inferior extremities of a male child growing from his epigastric
region.
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