Anomalies and Curiosities of MedicineGould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Science
Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine
Gould, George M. (George Milbrey)
Abnormalities, Human; Medicine -- Anecdotes
Trustworthy records of sextuplets are, of course, extremely scarce.
There are few catalogued at Washington, and but two authentic cases are
on record in the United States. On December 30, 1831, a woman in Dropin
was delivered of 6 daughters, all living, and only a little smaller
than usual in size. The mother was not quite twenty years old, but was
of strong constitution. The 6 lived long enough to be baptized, but
died the evening of their births. There was a case a of sextuplets in
Italy in 1844. In Maine, June 27, 1847, a woman was delivered of 6
children, 2 surviving and, together with the mother, doing well. In
1885 there was reported the birth of sextuplets in Lorca, Spain, of
which only one survived. At Dallas, Texas, in 1888, Mrs. George Hirsh
of Navarro County gave birth to 6 children, the mother and the children
all doing well. There were 4 boys and 2 girls, and they were all
perfect, well formed, but rather small.
Valsalli gives an instance which is quoted by the Medical News without
giving the authority. Valsalli's account, which differs slightly from
the account in the Medical News, is briefly as follows: While straining
at stool on the one hundred and fifteenth day of pregnancy the
membranes ruptured and a foot prolapsed, no pain having been felt
before the accident. A fetus was delivered by the midwife. Valsalli was
summoned and found the woman with an enormously distended abdomen,
within which were felt numerous fetal parts; but no fetal heart-sounds
or movements were noticed. The cervix was only slightly dilated, and,
as no pains were felt, it was agreed to wait. On the next day the
membranes were ruptured and 4 more fetuses were delivered. Traction on
the umbilical cord started hemorrhage, to check which the physician
placed his hand in the uterine cavity. In this most arduous position he
remained four hours until assistance from Lugano came. Then, in the
presence of the three visiting physicians, a sixth amniotic sac was
delivered with its fetus. The woman had a normal convalescence, and in
the following year gave birth to healthy, living twins. The News says
the children all moved vigorously at birth; there were 4 males and 2
females, and for the 6 there was only one placenta The mother,
according to the same authority, was thirty-six years of age, and was
in her second pregnancy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account