406 DESCRIPTION OF A SINGULAR LUSUS NATURE. 
Mr. Briggs’s examination of the foetus in utero, he felt confident, 
from the peculiar formation and monstrousness of the foetus, that it 
was not possible for it to pass the pelvic opening* Without any 
recourse to the torture and punishment too often inflicted under 
similar circumstances, he resolved on requesting my assistance. 
In haste we mounted our country nags, and freely expressed to 
each other his opinion on the way of the most safe and effectual 
method of operating. On our arrival, a multitude of the peasantry 
were in attendance, as is generally the case, partly to witness the 
performance of us wonder-working vets, and partly to make them¬ 
selves masters of our way of proceeding, and to steal a leaf out of 
our book, for each man has a cow, or perhaps more than one. 
On entering the cow-house the animal was presenting two feet 
and a tail. I requested Mr. Briggs to strip and examine the parts, 
stating that very possibly some alteration of the foetus might have 
taken place during our absence that might render the calf more 
easy to extract. I thought this but fair, corresponding with the 
kind feeling that existed betwixt us. His examination was at¬ 
tended with no better result than before he had started for me. 
The parts were in the same situation, and the formation of the 
foetus was not easy to ascertain : he could distinctly feel three hind 
legs and two tails. Two of the legs were in the passage, with one 
tail ; the other was articulated with the superior part of the ossa- 
innominata, and lay over the back. The foetus appeared to have 
a large body, and the extraction or changing of its situation was 
quite impracticable. 
Mr. Briggs expressed a strong wish that I should perform the 
Caesarean operation; but I thought there was some uncertainty 
about the propriety of this. The cow was in a weak state, and I 
thought not able to survive the operation. The only method of 
extracting the foetus, in my opinion, was by embryotomy, which 
we agreed to perform, and which we accomplished in the following 
manner:— 
I introduced an instrument resembling a short strong bistoury, 
guarded by my finger and thumb—the best conductors—with its 
handle resting on the palm of my hand. I commenced my dissection 
at the rectum, cutting downwards, severing the symphysis pubis, 
and dilating the opening as much as possible. I succeeded in re¬ 
moving the abdominal viscera and part of the contents of the 
thorax. I next crushed in the ribs; by so doing I was able to 
remove the double pelvis and the hind legs. We now gained a 
favourable position, and from our conjoined efforts we brought to 
light one of the most singular formations of nature ever wit¬ 
nessed. The animal had two heads, seven legs, and nine feet; 
two spines or back-bones, and two tails—one emerging from the 
