Mr Livingstone on a Chinese Lusus Naturae. 133 
ving at the same time a correct model made under my own eye; 
but aware that the only good artist then in Macao was employ- 
ed, I deferred giving my orders for a few days ; in the mean 
time, the monster unexpectedly left Macao. 
However, the modeller had made such careful observations of 
the subject, that he informed me he could make an exact repre- 
sentation of what he saw. He has succeeded so well, that I am 
assured by many friends who had carefully examined the origi- 
nal, that the model is wonderfully exact ; — a few unimportant 
exceptions shall be pointed out in the order of my description. 
I have spared no pains in collecting information from every 
quarter. I have had the advantage of receiving accounts from 
a great many intelligent friends, among whom I have the plea- 
sure to mention three medical gentlemen of this place. All their 
accounts agree surprisingly well. The model has been shewn 
to many of them, and my account read, with both of which they 
are entirely satisfied, < — so I am persuaded that my own observa- 
tions could not have added much either to the value or variety of 
those which I have been so fortunate as to receive from others. 
A-ke was bom sixteen years ago, in the district of Yun-lang- 
yuen, with another male child of nearly the same size united to 
the pit of his stomach by the neck, as if his brother had plunged 
its head into his breast. The skin of the principal here joins 
that of the upper part of the neck of the parasite, quite regu- 
larly and smoothly, excepting the superficial bloodvessels, which 
appear somewhat turgid. The sufferings of the mother were so 
great, that she survived the birth of this monster only two days. 
Since that time, the parasite has not much increased in size *, 
and at present is not much larger than new-born infants usually 
are; but the bones are completely formed. The shoulder bones 
are remarkably prominent. Here the model is faulty, since it 
represents the roundness of infancy ; but all this plumpness has 
disappeared from the original, where bones seem only to be co- 
• I have the authority of Lieut.-General Wood for stating, that a careful ad. 
measurement of the parasite was made at his request ; — the trunk and neck mea» 
sured about eleven inches, and the longest limb thirteen inches, making the ex- 
treme length two feet. This accords sufficiently well with the size I have men- 
tioned ; but as the modellers in China do not work by any s£ale, it would be use- 
less to deduce any exact measurement of the whole figure by knowing a part, 
