IX. Account of two instances of uncommon formation, in the viscera of the human body

Abstract

I take the liberty of presenting to the Royal Society, the relation of two cases of uncommon formation of the human body. When animal existence is supported by any other than the usual admirably contrived means, it cannot fail to excite the attention of the philosopher, since it shews to him the powers and resources of nature. The peculiarities of the first case which I have the honour to offer to the Society, consist in an uncommon transposition of the heart, and distribution of the blood vessels; together with a very strange, and, I believe, singular formation of the liver. The body which contained these deviations from the usual structure was brought to me for dissection; with its history whilst alive, I am therefore unacquainted. The subject was a female infant, which measured two feet in length; the umbilicus was firmly cicatrized, and the umbilical vein closed; from these circumstances I conclude that it was about ten months old. The muscles of the child were large and firm, and covered by a considerable quantity of healthy fat; indeed the appearance of the body strongly implied that the child had, when living, possessed much vigour of constitution.