/ 
C 29 6 ) 
XVI. An Account of a Child with a double Head. In a Letter 
from Everard Home, Efq. F. R. S. to John Hunter, Efq. 
F. R. S. 
Read March 25, 1790. 
/ 
f'i - 
DEAR s I R, 
I FEEL a particular fatisfa&ion in having been enabled, 
through the kind attention of my Friend Captain Bu- 
chanan, to add to your invaluable colle&ion the very uncom- 
mon double fkull of a monftrous child, born in the Eaft Indies, 
which attracted the attention of all the curious in Calcutta, 
where it was (hewn alive; and, fliould the following account 
of it appear to you of fufficient importance, I (hall requeft 
that you will do me the honour of laying it before the Royal 
Society. 
It is much to be regretted, that the hiftories of monftrous 
appearances in the ftru&ure of the human body which are 
to be found in the works of the older writers, and even of 
many of the moderns, are fo little to be depended upon. Few 
authors have contented themfelves with giving a Ample detail 
of fa£ls that were extraordinary ; but, from an over anxiety to 
make them ftill more wonderful, or from having given an im- 
plicit belief to the accounts received from the credulous and 
ignorant, they have commonly added circumftances too extra- 
vagant to deferve the attention of a reafonable mind, which 
prevent 
