The Four-Legged Girl with Two Reproductive Systems: Marries and Gives Birth to 5 Children, Turns Herself into an Exhibition. Despite being born with a bizarre physique, this girl leads a completely normal life and even turns her uniqueness into a money-making tool.
Josephene Myrtle Corbin, also known as Myrtle Corbin, was born on May 12, 1868, in Tennessee, USA, with overall good health and a completely normal body, except for having 4 legs. Josephene’s parents had a total of 8 children, but she was the only one born with this strange body. Everyone, from doctors to family members, was shocked to see Josephene’s body, but she turned her life into something miraculous.
Initially, it was believed that her body was a result of conjoined twins, but that was not the case. Josephene was diagnosed with dipygus syndrome, which caused the body axis to split during development in her mother’s womb. As a result, she was born with a normal upper body but with two sets of lower body parts like two individuals, including reproductive organs.
Josephene had two pelvic bones, four legs, two sets of reproductive organs, and two anuses. Each side could function independently, with one side experiencing constipation and the other side experiencing diarrhea. However, the two middle legs were underdeveloped, with only three toes and insufficient length to touch the ground. Josephene could move the two middle legs, but they were not strong enough to help her walk. Therefore, she used the two outer legs for mobility and had to have custom-made clothing to accommodate her four legs.
According to medical analysis, Josephene’s condition could be attributed to two factors. Firstly, her parents had a significant age gap, with her father, William H. Corbin, being 25 years old and her mother, Nancy, being 34 years old. Secondly, both parents had red hair, blue eyes, and white skin, indicating a possibility of consanguineous marriage, which increases the risk of congenital anomalies. However, it is strange that their other seven children were completely normal.
Despite the doubts and speculations of doctors, Josephene had an admirable life. Later, she not only married and had children like a normal person but also gained attention from the world due to her unique physique, leading to a successful career.
In 1881, at the age of 13, Josephene participated in a show with the nickname “the four-legged girl from Texas.” Curious locals paid money to Josephene’s father to see her. Recognizing the value of his daughter, Josephene’s father started distributing flyers to make more people aware of her. In these flyers, Josephene was described as a girl with a “gentle personality like summer sunlight and always happy and optimistic.”
Josephene became famous through her performances. Instead of waiting for curious people to come to her, she started traveling to different cities and towns to perform for the public. At one point, Josephene earned around $450 (equivalent to over 10 million VND at current exchange rates) per week.
Later, Josephene was hired by the famous artist P.T. Barnum to perform at his circus. She worked there for four years, exhibiting herself and receiving a warm welcome from thousands of people, which brought in a significant amount of money.
At the age of 18, Josephene suddenly retired from her circus career. She met a talented doctor named Clinton Bicknell, and they fell in love. At 19 years old, Josephene married Clinton, and about a year later, she discovered she was pregnant. She visited a doctor in Blountsville, Alabama, complaining of pain in her left abdomen, fever, headaches, and loss of appetite. The doctor concluded that despite her unique body with two reproductive systems, there was no reason for Josephene not to be able to conceive.
Josephene experienced severe morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy and was advised by the doctor to have an abortion, but she insisted on giving birth. She eventually gave birth to five children for her husband, Clinton. There were rumors that these five children were born from different reproductive systems.
After giving birth, Josephene occasionally continued to perform to earn extra income, but not regularly. Her case continued to appear in medical journals nationwide, but Josephene led a relatively normal life. She lived peacefully in a house in Texas with her husband and children.
In 1928, Josephene passed away from a streptococcal skin infection on her right leg. If it were in modern times, this disease could have been cured with antibiotics, but unfortunately, in the 1920s, there was no such method. On May 6, 1928, Josephene’s body was buried and covered with concrete at the Cleburne Memorial Park Cemetery in Cleburne, Texas, USA.
Until now, scientists have not been able to find a satisfactory explanation for Josephene’s health condition. Her departure left manyquestions unanswered, but she will always be remembered as the four-legged girl who turned her uniqueness into a successful career and lived a fulfilling life. Her story serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, one can find strength and purpose.
