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Description

Southwell recounts the story of a calf born in Wilnecote, in the county of Warwick [England], with two heads. He believes that the calf was blind. He describes how at three days old the calf was 'as large and as strong' as a calf of ten days or a fortnight old.

Subject: Veterinary medicine

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'Account of a monstrous calf with two heads'

Read to the Royal Society on 8 March 1698

Reference number
CLP/15i/55
Earliest possible date
March 1698
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Robert Southwell

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Citation

Robert Southwell, Paper, 'Account of a monstrous calf with two heads' by Robert Southwell, March 1698, CLP/15i/55, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_15i_55/paper-account-of-a-monstrous-calf-with-two-heads-by-robert-southwell, accessed on 14 June 2026

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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