QUADRUPLETS SURVIVING WITHOUT ANY SPECIAL CARE IN 1789
T. E. C. Jr. M.D.
The report below, if true, proves that what the ancients called vis mediatrix naturae must surely play an important role in the survival of the human race. Even today with the best specialized medical and nursing care survival of all four infants in quadruple births is the exception rather than the rule.
A Negro woman, named Benebah, was brought from Africa to Dominica in the year 1782. . . . On the 22nd of February 1789, when, according to her own computation, she had been about nine months pregnant, she was seized with labour-pains; and, by the assistance of a Negro woman on the estate to which she belonged, who officiated as midwife, she was delivered of a boy, to appearance healthy, and of ordinary size. But no placenta coming away, and marks of pregnancy still continuing, an accoucheur was sent for, who, about 24 hours after the birth of her first child, delivered her of three girls, all of the ordinary size; after which, he extracted a placenta of an enormous size, which he computed would have weighed about fifteen pounds. After this she had a very good recovery, and was able to walk about the eighth day. She gave suck to all her four children, also employing, however, with them at the same time a good deal of spoon-meat. Mr. Spencer, an ingenious man-midwife, saw them when about five months old. At the time they were all stout children, and, as well as their mother, in perfect health.
When Benebah was delivered of these children, she was about the 30th year of her age. She measured five feet two inches in height. Her husband, who was in his 35th year, was a stout wellmade man, about the middle size: and it may perhaps be mentioned as a singularity, that both she and her husband were twins.
