142 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1757. 



XXXIX. On a Double Female Monster which jvas born at Szony in Hungary, 

 Oct. 26th 1701, and which died Feb, 23d 17^3, at Presburgh, in the Convent 

 of the Nuns of St. Ursula, and was buried there. By Justics Johannes 

 Torkos, M. D., F.R.S. p. 311. From the Latin. 



1. Dr. T. premises his account of this monstrosity by obseiV^ing, that it affords 

 a remarkable instance of the power of the mother's imagination on the foetus in 

 utero. For at the beginning of her pregnancy, the mother * attentius contem- 

 plabatur canes coeuntes, arctius cohserentes, et capitibus erga se invicem quodam- 

 modo conversos, eosque sibi crebrius praefigurabat.' 



2. At the time of parturition, the body of Helen was first excluded as far as 

 the navel ; three hours after the feet were delivered, together with the body of 

 Judith, joined to that of Helen. Of the two, Helen was the tallest and 

 straightest. Notwithstanding they were joined together at the back below the 

 loins, yet they were turned with their faces and bodies half sideways (semilatera- 

 liter) towards each other, so that they could sit down, and move backwards and 

 forwards. One anus, situated between the right femur of Helen and the left 

 femur of Judith, was common to both. ' Unam quoque habebant vulvam, intra 

 4 pedes reconditam, ut dum erectis starent corporibus, ne vestigium ejus con- 

 spicuum esset.' It was observed that when one of them wanted to go to stool, 

 the other felt a similar desire ; but that in regard to the urinary evacuation, when 

 one of them felt an inclination to make water the other did not.* Hence in their 

 youth, though in other respects they were exceedingly fond of each other, there 

 frequently arose violent contentions between them, in which one would carry 

 the other on her back, or drag her along to the place to which she wanted 

 to go. 



3. In the 6th year of her age, Judith was affected with a palsy of the lefl 

 side, the consequence of which was, that, although she recovered, she ever 

 afterwards remained weaker, more sluggish and dull ; on the contrary Helen 

 became more active, more lively, and more beautiful. 



4. Not only was there this difference in their persons, but a difference was 

 also observable in regard to their vital, animal, and natural functions, in health 

 as well as in disease. And although they had the small pox and measles at one 

 and the same time ; yet they had other disorders separately. Judith was often 

 convulsed, while Helen remained free from indisposition. Helen had a pleuritic 

 affection. Judith had a fever. One of them had a catarrh and a colic, while the 

 other continued well. 



5. At the age of l6 the menstrua appeared and continued, but not at equal 



• Another account, noticed further on, states that the alvine, as well as the urinary evacuation, 

 was performed by each at different times. 



