Letter of the Day: March 23

Field Hospital
Fort Cummings, N.M.
March 23, 1882

Surgeon General U.S. Army,
Washington, D.C.

Sir,

I have the honor to state that I have this day turned over to the Post Quartermaster for shipment to the Army Medical Museum a two headed Foetal calf.

The history of the case is as follows: Mr. Charles Clauberg the post butcher, who presents the specimen, states that about three months ago he slaughtered a fine fat heifer, not knowing that she was pregnant, and on finding that her uterus contained a calf proceeded to cut it out, after he had inadvertently cut off the heads, he found the peculiarities noted, the double head, single neck, and double joints, throughout the body, as far as examined.

I have thought the specimen of too much value, to be lost and therefore forward it.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R.C. Newton.
Asst Surg. U.S.A.
Post Surgeon

[note written at the end of letter, in a different hand]
Specimen received
ackd [acknowledged] May 13, 1882,
Turned over to
Mr. Schafhirt, Anatomical-
for section of Comparative Anatomy