MONSTROSITIES. 419 



species. Only two of these cases appear in English literature. We 

 have already shown, in the classification of monstrosities, the kind and 

 degree of division there exists between the heads, and we have only now 

 to deal with this anomaly from an obstetrical point of view. 



It may be observed that many of these creatures have been born alive, 

 and have continued to live for some time. Canu mentions a double- 

 headed Calf which survived its birth fifty days, and Bert gives a good 

 description of another which he examined when it was fifteen months 

 old ; but in the latter instance the anomaly was limited to the lower part 

 of the head, the jaws only giving evidence of duplicity. 



The existence of this anomaly renders birth more or less difficult, or 

 even impossible, according to the size of the heads, their point of junc- 

 tion — whether at the face or cranium, or towards the neck, and also ac- 

 cording as the presentation of the foetus is anterior or posterior. In very 

 many of the cases recorded, the mother died or had to be killed, while in 

 others birth occurred without assistance and with but little difiiculty : 

 rather a matter for wonder, considering the width of two foetal heads 

 joined towards tne upper part of the neck. In this respect the Monoso- 

 mian must prove more troublesome sometimes than the Sysomian mon- 

 ster. In the majority of cases the presentation is anterior. 



An examination will reveal the existence of this condition, when the 

 obstetrist will adopt the measures necessary for extraction. In very 

 many of the cases embryotomy will have to be resorted to, or even the 

 Csesarean section. Decapitation of one or both heads may sometimes 

 suffice. In other cases, judicious manipulation and well-timed traction 

 will effect delivery. When the heads are united at the cranium (as in 

 Figs. 97 and 100), and it is impossible to decapitate, the obstetrical saw, 

 chisel, or bone forceps may be usefully employed to disunite them at 

 their junction. 



With double necks, amputation of one head and neck should be ef- 

 fected as low down as possible, 



1. Wilson ( Veterinarian, vol. xlii., p. 407) describes a Monosomian monster ; the heads 

 were of equal size and fully developed. With the exception of the atlas and dentata, 

 the bones were natural in shape. The dentata did not differ much from the normal 

 form ; but the ring or body of the atlas was curved from below upw^ards, at its anterior 

 and middle part, and had attached to the extremity of this curved portion an extra piece, 

 which was carried with a sweep upwards and backwards to join the body of the bone 

 superiorly. This interposed portion of bone contributed, on either side, to the formation 

 of the concavities for the attachment of the two occipital bones. The spinal cord was 

 not bifid, as only a common but enlarged cavity existed in the atlas. The presentation 

 of the fcEtus was posterior, and delivery could not be effected until the greater part of 

 the foetus was removed by dissection. 



This was the fourth case of double head this veterinarian had met with in twenty-five 

 years' practice. The first (a calf) was delivered alive, but only lived about half-an-hour ; 

 the next two were born dead. 



2. Shipley [Veterinary Journal, March, 1877) gives details of the case shown in figure 

 100. The mother was a medium-sized Cow, which had been in labor for about twenty- 

 four hours, during which an empiric had exerted all his skill for several hours to effect 

 delivery. Shipley found the genital canal dry and swollen from the severe treatment. 

 With difiiculty the fore-legs of the foetus were reached, and then a malformed or double 

 head. The lower jaw of each head was smashed, and the incisors pulled out or hanging 

 from the gum. This damage had been done during the attempts at extraction ; unsuc- 

 cessful efforts had also been made to amputate the head. 



With much trouble and labor, the fore limbs were pushed forward as far as possible 

 into the uterus, and a strong cord passed over the back of the heads behind the ears ; 

 then, with the aid of some men who pulled at this cord, and in manipulating the two 

 noses of the foetus — first to one side, then the other, gradually drawing each forward — 



1 



