Monster of the Sheqi Genus, 827 



the fact has turned out differently, the much greater number 

 having been males. In both cases, I am inclined to suppose it 

 merely a matter of chance ; and that, upon a large scale of 

 investigation, the numbers would be found nearly equal. That, 

 however, which occurred to the above-mentioned authors was 

 easily seized upon to support their own hypothesis, — that, in 

 the female, the plastic, or moulding, force is less powerful 

 than in the male. It is, I believe, also generally admitted, 

 that, in acephalous monsters, the viscera of the abdomen and 

 pelvis are found more or less rudimentary only, particularly 

 the urinary and genital organs ; but, in the case before us, the 

 genital organs, as well as all the other pelvic viscera, were 

 completely formed. 



There was only one trachea, which descended into a tho- 

 racic cavity in common to the two animals. This cavity con- 

 tained only one set of lungs, one division of them lying against 

 the ribs of the right side of the one animal ; the other division, 

 against the left ribs of the other. There existed no mediastinum. 



Only one heart could be found, which was of the natural size 

 and structure : but from each ventricle sprung an aorta ; of 

 these two vessels, one turned to the right, the other to the 

 left. The one which turned to the left, went down in the na- 

 tural direction ; while that which" turned to the right, crossed 

 the right vertebral column, and passed down on the outer side 

 of it. A transverse vessel, of somewhat smaller caliber, passed 

 from the beginning of the turn of the arch on one side, to the 

 same part on the other side, thus forming a communication 

 between the two aortas. The circumstance of there being 

 only one heart, and that of the natural size only, while the two 

 animals appear, with the exceptions that have been stated, to 

 have experienced no interruption in their intra-uterine growth, 

 seems to make it doubtful whether, according to M. Serres, 

 the sanguiferous system is to be considered as regulating and 

 forming all the others. It is held also, by many other physio- 

 logists besides M. Serres, that the strength and volume of all 

 the organs are in direct proportion to the quantity of blood 

 bestowed upon them. 



Such are the striking circumstances that presented themselves 

 to my observation. I am not aware that any description of 

 a similar monstrosity is to be found in books, or that any such 

 is contemplated by Geoff roy St. Hilaire, or any other system 

 matic writer. I remain, Sir, &c. 



John Chichester, M.D. 

 Cheltenham^ July 24. 1828. 



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