AN ACCOUNT OF A MONSTROUS CHILD BY DR. JOHN BURTON, PHYSICIAN AT YORK
T. E. C. Jr. M.D.
The case history below, published in 1747, demonstrates two things. First, that children could sumvive in spite of serious congenital anomalies; and second, that physicians' claims were not always accepted at face value.
—Wright, Spouse to a Ship Carpenter living at Kirkthorp near Wakefield in Yorkshire, bore a Child that had no Parts of Generation proper either to Male or Female, there not being the least Appearance of such Organs at the Place where we should expect to find those Parts; the child in every other Part was made as is common, except about half Way betwixt the Navel and Os pubic there was a circular Orifice of about an Inch Diameter, in which was a spongious Substance resembling the end of the Glans Penis excoriated; it did not project in the least from the Body, neither was it covered, but was quite bare, and very sore and tender. Through the several and almost innumerable Pores or Orifices of this spongious Body the Urine ouzed (sic) continually, and sometimes Blood, and at other times a reddish-coloured Serum. The Child lived to the Age of five Years or thereabouts, and died of the small Pox in November last. To the Truth of this I can bring many certificates, as well as living witnesses, if it was thought necessary.1
