Myrtle Corbin was an American sideshow performer born with a medical condition known as dipygus, resulting in having two pelvis and four legs. The term Dipygus refers to a complete caudal duplication deformity in its severest form. The structures derived from the embryonic cloaca and notochords are duplicated to various extents. In her case, she had two separate pelvises side by side from the waist down, as a result of her body axis splitting as it developed. Each of her smaller inner legs was paired with one of her outer legs. She was said to be able to move her inner legs, but they were too weak for walking.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Josephine Myrtle Corbin |
| Date Of Birth | May 12, 1868 |
| Date of Death | May 6, 1928 |
| Place of Birth | Lincoln County Tennessee |
| Cause Of Death | streptococcal skin infection |
| Parents | Father: William H.Corbin Mother: Nancy Corbin (née Sullins) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Age | 60 years at the time of death |
| Siblings | 4 |
| Husband | James Clinton Bicknell. |
| Children | 4, Nancy Estelle, Francis Clinton, Ruby, and Lillian J. |
| Height | 5 feet |
| Eye Color | Blue |
Josephine Myrtle Corbin was born on May 12, 1868, to her parents William H. Corbin and Nancy Corbin. Her Dad and Mom were 25 and 34 years respectively when they gave birth to her. Shortly after her birth, her parents were examined by doctors to collect more data. The parents were described as being very similar in appearance, “both having auburn hair, blue eyes, and very fair complexion”; in fact, the two looked so similar to the extent that doctors felt compelled to point out that they were not “blood kin”. Myrtle had 4 siblings including a child from her mother, Nancy’s first marriage.
The birth of Josephine Myrtle Corbin took the world by surprise, The woman was born with four legs and two sets of genitals. No doubt, a lot of issues of concern would have been raised in the process. For instance, while some must have seen it as a sign of the end of time, others must have concluded that it was a myth or internet Hoax that computer nerds fabricated. But whatever the shared doubts and opinions may be, Josphine Corbin Myrtle, 4 legged woman is not a myth, it’s true she came to the world and lived a healthy life. This article discusses more facts that will shock you about her.
Josephine Myrtle Corbin’s birth was not marked by anything “peculiar about the labor or delivery” according to her mother. Physicians who examined the child shortly after her birth noted that if the child would have been born bottom first instead of the normal head first, it would have proved fatal to the infant, and possibly to the mother. Corbin soon showed herself to be a strong child, weighing 10 lb (4.5 kg) three weeks after the birth.
Myrtle Corbin Cause Of Birth
Doctors concluded her extra legs were supposed to be her twin’s separate legs, who only fully developed down from the waist. The rare conjoined twinning called made her have two different bodies from the core. Corbin Myrtle was able to control her sister’s leg as in movements, but the pair of legs were too weak and could not be used for walking — interestingly, her twin sister’s legs had only three toes on each foot. The clubbed foot lady had an overall difficult time walking as she owned only one usable leg.
Only fourteen cases of dipygus have been recorded in the medical literature. Thus, dipygus is a very rare medical condition. Corbin had four healthy brothers and sisters, proving the abnormality was not a genetic problem in the family she later had 5 children of her own, four daughters and a son who was also healthy.
Doctors couldn’t explain her condition. She was simply a miracle. Analyzing her birth conditions, doctors found no abnormalities — there was nothing peculiar about her delivery, except that she was initially a breech presentation that later orientated normally.
Personal Life
At the age of thirteen, the world became her runway of “the four-legged girl” and she was quite famous. Corbin embarked on her career. She started by signing up for a slideshow circuit. She acted as a circus character named the “Four-legged girl from Texas.” Her popularity reached heights when she worked with P.T Barnum, followed by Ringling bros and Coney Island. She often dresses her extra limbs in socks and her ones with shoes, Corbin used to appear surreal. Her mounting popularity rewarded her with a lucrative package of that era as she was earning $450 a week.
With her raised to popularity, What was interesting followed Josephene Myrtle Corbin was the rival strategies. Other shows started by using a trick chair and hiding another person to give an illusion of multiple lower limbs — the rivals advertised a fake “four-legged woman to compete with her shows.” But people knew Myrtle Corbin was the only Four-Legged Woman who existed. She was about five feet high, has fair skin, blue eyes, and curly hair, and is very intelligent and friendly. Also, Corbin was famous for being a very gentle and happy soul.
Marriage, Children & Corbin’s Bizarre Anatomy
Did Myrtle Corbin marry? Who is her husband? Yes, she got married, She got married at the age of 19 years to James Clinton Bicknell. James, her husband insisted on her retiring from the sideshow to start a new life on farms.
In the spring of 1887, about a year after she and Bicknell get married, Corbin became pregnant for the first time. The pregnancy caused Corbin to become gravely ill, and after consulting with colleagues, Whaley decided to perform an abortion eight weeks after her initial examination. She was, reportedly, between three and four months pregnant at the time. This did not prevent her from successfully carrying future pregnancies to term.
The couple went on and had five children together, four girls and a boy. One of the most astonishing facts about Corbin Myrtle is how she gave birth to her five children. Dr. Lewis Whaley, the doctor who worked on her discovered that Coby also owned a similar duplication of two internal female reproductive systems. As a result, she was pregnant with her first child in her left uterus. She gave birth to three of her children from one part of her body and the other two from the other part of her body. But gave birth to eight children; later, only five survived. The 1910 census revealed four surviving children’s names as Nancy Estelle, Francis Clinton, Ruby, and Lillian J.
Death: Cause Of Death, Age she died
At what age did Myrtle Corbin die? Corbin died at the age of fifty-nine on May 6th, 1928, in Cleburne, Texas. what was the cause of her death? Myrtle died weeks after suffering from a streptococcal skin infection. Even though the condition could have been treated easily today with antibiotics, there was nothing like such treatment in the 1920s
After her death, different medical personnel intended to purchase her corpse for examinations. However, her family denied the offers and laid Corbin to rest at Cleburne Memorial Park Cemetery. Additionally, her grave was guarded for some time after her death to prevent any corpse theft.
Despite her deformity, it is incredible to know that Josephine Myrtle Corbin did not allow her circumstance to affect her view of life but rather used it as an advantage to gain fame and wealth. Although her net worth is unknown she made a good amount of money in her sideshow business.
The image above is not the real image of Myrtle Corbin but rather just an internet Hoax.
Fact about Myrtle Corbin
1. She was of sound health from Birth: Josephine Myrtle Corbin was seen as natural beauty. The doctors that carried out a test on her after she was born confirmed that she was healthy and robust and could operate like every other normal human being.
2. She was a Sideshow performer: At the earlier age of 13, the 4 legs woman was very famous for her act in Sideshows. Because of her exceptional looks, it dawned on her father that he could charge curious residents a token to look at his four-legged Josephine. So the girl began to travel to different towns for sideshow performances and she earned a lot of money, she was earning as much as 450 dollars a week at that time.
3. she married and had Children: While some people could have wondered who would anyone marry a girl like Josephine with 4 legs, interestingly, when she was nineteen, she got married to a doctor known as Clinton Bicknell. Then, not only did she marry, but she also had five children in the process (a boy and four girls). She originally was supposed to have 8 but only 4 survived.
4. Myrtle Corbin preferred having sexual intercourse on her right side: It was like a surprise to her when she had her first pregnancy. When the news was shared with her, Corbin was quoted to have responded in disbelief that, “If it had been in my right side I would come nearer believing you are correct.” Based on what she said, it became glaring to everyone that the four-legged woman enjoyed having intercourse on her right side compared to her left side.
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