It’s alive!

Denison Daily News, February 3, 1878. Strange and affecting enough, I suppose, in the era of baby farming. The long beard is a nice touch, but how long is long? Longer than three feet?
As an instance of maternal impression, this is oddly nebulous, lacking the Just So Stories exactitude one is conditioned to expect. There needs to be a better morphological link between the fire and the condition of the child. Speaking of maternal impression, I haven’t until now created a tag or formal thread for that interesting theme, and must now correct this oversight.

In behalf of scientific progress, truly yours. . .

American Phrenological Journal, June 1865. Yes, even the American Phrenological Journal occasionally got things wrong.

See monkey, be monkey

Medical & Surgical Reporter, October 9, 1869. Pre-natal care has changed a fair bit over the years.

Spoon River Morphology

Daily Austin Republican, November 25, 1858. There must be an archaic technical term or two for this marvelous effect, whereby a pregnant woman who is traumatized by X gives birth to Y. Anybody out there know the jargon? Meanwhile, you’re doubtless wondering how this kid managed to get along without a head. Well, it’s really quite simple. . .

Paging Dr. Moreau II

Daily Inter-Ocean, January 24, 1880. The woods were thick with these half-human hybrids back in the day, as we’ll see.