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Myrtle Corbin

Josephine Myrtle Corbin (1868–1928)^[1] was an American woman renowned for her dipygus condition, a rare form of caudal duplication syndrome characterized by partial twinning that resulted in her possessing four legs—two functional outer legs and two smaller, atrophied inner legs—and two fully independent reproductive systems.^[2]^[3] This extraordinary anatomy made her one of the most notable cases of dipygus in medical history, with only a handful of documented instances worldwide.^[3]^[4] Corbin entered the world of 19th-century sideshow entertainment as a child, billed as the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas," and toured extensively with circuses, captivating audiences with demonstrations of her mobility—she could walk, run, and even square dance using her outer legs.^[2]^[5] By her late teens, she retired from performing, married physician James Clinton Bicknell, and settled into domestic life, successfully giving birth to five children (three from one reproductive system and two from the other), an unprecedented achievement for someone with her condition.^[2]^[6] Her life exemplified resilience amid medical curiosity and public spectacle, transitioning from exhibition to a private family existence in Cleburne, Texas, where she passed away at age 59.^[5]

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Josephine Myrtle Corbin was born on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee.^[7] She was given the full name Josephine Myrtle Corbin and was commonly known as Myrtle throughout her life.^[7] Myrtle was the second daughter born to William H. Corbin and his wife, Nancy Sullins Corbin, who had previously been widowed.^[7] William H. Corbin, a farmer by trade, had been injured during the Civil War, which severely limited his ability to work and provide for the family.^[7] Nancy Corbin came from a modest background and managed the household amid these challenges.^[7] The Corbin family included four brothers and two full sisters for Myrtle, all of whom developed typically.^[1]^[8] Myrtle also had an older half-sister from her mother's previous marriage.^[7] The family had relocated from Blount County, Alabama, to Lincoln County shortly before Myrtle's birth and returned to Blount County by 1870.^[7] Living in the rural South during the Reconstruction era, the Corbins faced significant post-Civil War poverty, exacerbated by William's war-related disability and the economic hardships of the time.^[7] This socio-economic environment influenced their early family decisions as they sought ways to sustain themselves in a region recovering from widespread devastation.^[7]

Childhood and Initial Exhibitions

Josephine Myrtle Corbin was born on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee, to William H. Corbin, a farmer, and his wife Nancy. The family, which included four sons and four daughters (one from Nancy's previous marriage), relocated during her early years, and Myrtle spent most of her childhood in Blount County, Alabama, where she was raised on the family farm alongside her siblings. Her condition was immediately apparent at birth but was initially managed privately by the family, who integrated her into daily farm life as much as possible.^[8] Due to the family's poverty in the late 1870s, around the age of 10 to 13 (circa 1878–1881), the Corbins decided to exhibit Myrtle locally in Tennessee to generate income. Billed as the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas" to attract larger crowds despite her Tennessee origins, these initial shows were informal local exhibitions that earned small fees to help support the household. Public reactions were mixed, with curiosity driving attendance, though the inaccurate billing helped generate interest and mark the transition from private family life to public exposure.^[8] In her early years, Myrtle adapted to basic mobility by primarily using her outer pair of legs for walking and support, while the inner pair remained non-weight-bearing and was often concealed or unused for locomotion. The family's response was protective at first, shielding her from outside scrutiny on the farm, but economic necessity prompted the shift to exhibitions, allowing Myrtle to contribute to the household while beginning her path toward a professional career.^[8]

Physical Condition

Description of Dipygus

Dipygus is a rare form of conjoined twinning classified as a complete caudal duplication deformity, in which a parasitic twin develops lower body structures attached to the primary body, resulting in duplication of the pelvis and lower extremities.^[3] This congenital condition arises from an incomplete separation of the embryonic axis during development, leading to partial twinning focused on the caudal region.^[9] In Josephine Myrtle Corbin's case, the dipygus manifested as two separate pelvises fused at the torso, with her overall body appearing normal from the head through the waist. Below the waist, the duplication produced four legs: the outer pair generally well-formed and positioned for locomotion, though the right outer foot was clubbed, while the inner pair was smaller, atrophied, and located between the outer legs, resembling additional thighs with reduced functionality and three toes each. Her upper body, including the torso up to the waist, developed typically without duplication. No other siblings in her family were affected by this condition.^[9]^[8]^[10] Corbin's reproductive anatomy was also duplicated, featuring two fully functional sets of female genitalia, including two vulvas and two uteri, which enabled menstruation from both independently. This structural redundancy stemmed from the caudal duplication extending to the genitourinary system. Dipygus of this severity is extraordinarily rare, with an estimated incidence of less than 1 in 100,000 births for related caudal duplications, and complete cases like Corbin's reported in only a handful of historical instances.^[9]^[3]

Functionality and Adaptations

Corbin primarily relied on her outer pair of legs for locomotion, as they were generally well developed and capable of supporting her weight despite the clubfoot on the right outer foot, while the inner pair remained atrophied and unsuitable for weight-bearing activities.^[11]^[10] She possessed voluntary control over the inner legs, enabling her to move them independently, such as crossing them or gesturing, but she was unable to stand or walk using all four legs simultaneously due to their weakness and positioning.^[11] Full sensory perception was present in all four limbs, allowing her to feel touch and pain equally across them.^[11] In her daily routine, Corbin adapted by wearing custom-designed clothing, including long skirts or dresses, to conceal her inner legs when not performing, facilitating a semblance of normalcy in private life.^[8] She occasionally utilized the inner feet for practical tasks, such as reaching low objects or assisting in minor manipulations, leveraging their mobility despite limited strength.^[12] During her youth, her condition imposed no significant mobility restrictions; she maintained an active lifestyle, including farm work and extensive travel, demonstrating robust overall health.^[11] Corbin psychologically adapted to her dipygus by regarding it as a beneficial attribute that afforded her financial independence through exhibition opportunities, as reflected in her personal reflections on supporting her family.^[8]

Career as Performer

Entry into Sideshows

At the age of 13 in 1881, Josephine Myrtle Corbin transitioned from local family-led exhibitions to professional sideshow entertainment. Her father had advertised her unique condition in local newspapers, drawing the attention of P.T. Barnum, the prominent American showman known for his traveling exhibitions and circus. Barnum recognized the potential draw of Corbin's dipygus and promptly arranged for her to join his circuit, marking her formal entry into the national entertainment industry.^[13] Corbin was billed as the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas," a sensational title that evoked Southern exoticism despite her birth in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This moniker appeared in promotional pamphlets and posters from the outset, emphasizing her rarity to attract paying audiences. She signed a contract with Barnum's organization that year, securing an initial salary of $250 per week—a considerable sum equivalent to over $7,000 in modern terms—which reflected her immediate value as a curiosity.^[14] In her debut professional appearances, Corbin's performances centered on controlled demonstrations of her lower body's functionality, such as independently flexing or moving her smaller inner legs while keeping her outer pair stationary. These displays underscored the anatomical intrigue of her condition without relying on scripted acts or props, positioning her primarily as an object of wonder rather than a traditional entertainer.^[15] Corbin's early career involved touring across the United States with Barnum's shows, starting in regional venues and expanding to larger cities, which steadily elevated her profile and paved the way for broader fame in the sideshow world.^[9]

Major Tours and Earnings

Corbin's primary performing career spanned approximately five years, from 1881 to 1886, during which she achieved significant fame and financial success as part of P.T. Barnum's circus and Barnum & Bailey. She toured extensively across the United States, appearing in major cities such as New York and Chicago, where her exhibitions drew large audiences to venues like dime museums and circus sideshows. By 1886, her popularity had grown to the point where she earned up to $450 per week, an impressive sum equivalent to substantial modern income adjusted for inflation.^[8] Her performances emphasized her physical functionality rather than mere deformity; she would sit or stand to demonstrate independent movement of all four legs, often dressing the extra pair in matching stockings and shoes for visual effect, without relying on animal acts, props, or sensational gimmicks.^[16] The financial rewards from these tours enabled Corbin to achieve independence, allowing her to accumulate enough wealth to purchase property in Texas upon her retirement in 1886, upon her marriage. This period marked the peak of her career, after which she largely withdrew from public exhibitions to focus on private life. She briefly returned to sideshow performances in the early 1900s, including at Coney Island and other venues, until around 1915.^[7]^[8]

Personal Life

Marriage to James Bicknell

In 1886, at the age of 18, Josephine Myrtle Corbin married James Clinton Bicknell, a physician born and raised in Blount County, Alabama.^[17] The union took place on June 12 in Blount County, connecting Corbin through family ties, as Bicknell was the brother of Hiram Locke Bicknell, who had wed Corbin's younger sister Willie Ann in November 1885.^[18] Their courtship developed from this sibling marriage, with James proposing to Myrtle shortly thereafter.^[8] Bicknell, fully aware of Corbin's dipygus condition from her public exhibitions, offered unwavering support during their engagement and wedding, which marked her initial transition from sideshow performer to private citizen.^[7] This marriage prompted Corbin's initial retirement from the performance circuit, though she later returned briefly due to financial needs.^[8] After the wedding, the couple initially remained in Alabama before relocating in the early 1890s to Johnson County, Texas, where they settled in the Cleburne area.^[1] Bicknell established a local medical practice in Cleburne, providing for the family while prioritizing a quiet domestic existence.^[8] Their relationship was characterized as affectionate and stable, with Bicknell actively shielding Corbin from further public attention where possible following her initial retirement.^[8]

Children and Later Residence

Corbin and her husband, James Clinton Bicknell, had at least seven children, with births spanning 1887 to 1906; four survived to adulthood (three daughters and one son), all of whom developed typically without inheriting her dipygus condition. Their first child, an infant daughter, died shortly after birth in 1887. The surviving children included daughters Nancy Estelle (born September 19, 1891, in Blount County, Alabama), Ruby Eugenia (born April 1, 1898, in Bono, Johnson County, Texas), and Lillian Josephine (born May 21, 1906, in Johnson County, Texas), as well as son Clinton Francis (born May 22, 1896, in Bono, Johnson County, Texas).^[19]^[17] Due to economic hardships, Corbin returned to sideshow performances from 1909 to around 1915, appearing at venues such as Huber's Museum in New York and the Dreamland Circus Sideshow at Coney Island, where she earned up to $450 per week.^[8]^[7] The family then settled permanently in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, where they owned a comfortable home purchased using earnings from Corbin's career. U.S. Census records from 1900 and 1910 confirm the family's residence in Johnson County, listing Corbin as a homemaker living with her husband and children on their property.^[8]^[20] The Bicknells integrated into the local community, raising their children in a conventional family setting while keeping Corbin's physical condition out of the public eye to foster normalcy. After her permanent retirement around 1915, Corbin focused primarily on homemaking and family responsibilities in Cleburne, engaging in only occasional local travel and steering clear of the fame associated with her earlier exhibitions.^[8]^[9]

Medical and Scientific Legacy

Examinations and Publications

During her childhood, Myrtle Corbin was examined by physicians to verify the legitimacy of her condition for exhibition purposes. Shortly after her birth on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee, attending doctors noted that her dipygus anomaly resulted from a difficult breech delivery, confirming she was otherwise healthy and robust.^[12] Shortly after her birth, prominent surgeons Joseph Jones, M.D., and Paul F. Eve, M.D., examined her and issued a medical certificate on June 16, 1868, describing her anatomy as a genuine case of dipygus with two pelvises and four legs fused at the pelvis, emphasizing the rarity and non-fraudulent nature of her anatomy.^[4] A significant documentation of Corbin's condition appeared in the medical literature through Dr. Joseph Jones's 1888 report Contribution to Teratology, delivered to the Louisiana State Medical Society, who detailed her anatomy based on prior examinations, including the presence of two separate pelvises, four legs (with the outer pair functional for walking), and dual sets of external genitalia.^[12] Jones's publication highlighted the functional aspects of her dipygus, such as her ability to control the inner, atrophied legs to some degree and the independent functionality of her reproductive systems, providing early scientific validation beyond spectacle.^[7] In 1887, shortly after marriage, Corbin experienced her first pregnancy, diagnosed by Dr. J. W. Whaley in Birmingham, Alabama, who confirmed conception in one uterus but induced an abortion due to risks to her health. This case was published in the Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal in 1888, providing early insights into her duplicated reproductive functionality.^[21] Contemporary physicians confirmed the complete duplication of her internal reproductive organs and her capacity for pregnancy through either set. These findings aligned with her pregnancies, including five children born between 1888 and 1909, with oversight of her health without public disclosure of details at the time.^[15] Corbin consented to these evaluations, viewing them as contributions to scientific understanding of congenital anomalies, and no invasive procedures were performed during her lifetime beyond the 1887 intervention.^[21]

Influence on Medical Understanding

Myrtle Corbin's case significantly advanced 19th-century teratology by illustrating dipygus as a severe form of caudal duplication, often interpreted as parasitic twinning resulting from incomplete separation of embryonic structures during gastrulation.^[3] This anomaly, involving duplication of the pelvis, lower limbs, and associated organs, provided a rare documented example of viable long-term survival, with Corbin living to age 59 despite the condition.^[22] Her functionality—using the outer pair of legs for walking while the inner pair remained vestigial—challenged prevailing medical notions that such "monstrosities" were inherently non-viable or severely debilitating, thereby influencing embryological understandings of caudal development and twinning mechanisms. Posthumously, Corbin's condition was referenced in seminal 20th-century teratology works, including George M. Gould and Walter L. Pyle's Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine (1896), which cataloged her as a key case of double-bodied humanity and emphasized the adaptive potential of duplicated organs. This inclusion helped standardize dipygus within medical literature, informing later texts on congenital anomalies and highlighting environmental or genetic factors in early embryonic cloacal and notochordal development.^[23] In modern contexts, Corbin's case serves as a historical benchmark for genetic studies of caudal duplication, linked to de novo mutations in genes regulating axial patterning, such as those in the HOX cluster, though exact etiologies remain elusive for sporadic instances like hers.^[22] Contemporary reports, such as a 2014 analysis of a pediatric dipygus patient, cite her alongside rare survivors to underscore the condition's spectrum and potential for reproductive viability, filling gaps in pre-genomic era data.^[3] Her documented fertility and motherhood further demonstrated organ duplication's compatibility with normal physiology, prompting reevaluations of teratogenic risks in embryology. Additionally, Corbin's public life sparked early debates in medical ethics concerning the exhibition of congenital rarities, balancing scientific inquiry against exploitation, though such discussions gained broader traction in the 20th century amid evolving standards for human subjects in research.

Death and Cultural Impact

Cause and Circumstances of Death

Josephine Myrtle Corbin died on May 6, 1928, in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, at the age of 59.^[1] In her final years during the 1920s, Corbin experienced increasing health challenges, including declining mobility due to the complications of her lifelong dipygus condition. She resided quietly in her Texas home with her family and received treatment from local physicians in Cleburne for ongoing ailments. These issues culminated in 1928 when she developed a severe streptococcal skin infection on her right leg that failed to respond to prescribed medication. The infection, unrelated to her congenital dipygus, rapidly worsened, leading to her death less than a week after diagnosis.^[8] At the time of her passing, Corbin was survived by her husband, James Clinton Bicknell, whom she had married in 1886, and four surviving children. Her funeral was a modest affair attended by family members, and she was buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery. To protect her body from potential grave robbers interested in her unique anatomy, her family poured concrete over her casket and maintained a vigil until it fully set.^[1]^[8]

Depictions in Media and Culture

Josephine Myrtle Corbin's portrayal in 19th-century media centered on her role as a sideshow attraction, with promotional posters and pamphlets billing her as the "Four-Legged Girl from Texas" to draw crowds during her tours with P.T. Barnum's circus.^[24] These materials often emphasized her physical anomaly for sensational effect, reflecting the era's fascination with human curiosities in traveling shows. Contemporary newspaper accounts further amplified her fame, describing her appearances in circuses and highlighting public curiosity about her condition during performances in the 1880s.^[25] In 20th-century literature on sideshow history, Corbin received profiles in works exploring the cultural phenomenon of freak shows, such as Marc Hartzman's American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers (2005), which details her career and the broader context of performers with similar anomalies. Texts on medical anomalies also referenced her case to illustrate rare congenital conditions, contributing to historical discussions of human variation beyond entertainment.^[26] Modern depictions of Corbin have appeared in online articles and video content, including a 2018 feature on All That's Interesting that recounts her life and challenges stereotypes of disability in historical contexts.^[15] A 2022 YouTube documentary by the channel Forgotten Lives examines her story as an example of overlooked figures in American history, focusing on her personal achievements.^[27] Podcasts in the 2020s, such as episodes from Fresh Hell Podcast, have revisited her narrative within explorations of 19th-century exploitation in entertainment. Corbin's cultural legacy often symbolizes resilience amid adversity, as seen in disability history analyses that portray her as a figure who navigated fame and family life despite societal objectification.^[9] Her story has prompted critiques of freak show ethics, highlighting themes of exploitation and the commodification of physical differences in popular media.^[28] Recent online discussions in 2024, including articles on disability-focused sites, compare her condition to contemporary genetic cases, underscoring ongoing interest in her as a historical benchmark for understanding human diversity.^[28] As of 2025, continued interest is evident in a Medium article (October 2025) detailing her life beyond the circus and an updated entry in the children's encyclopedia Kiddle (October 2025).^[29]^[30]

References

[1]
Remembering P. T. Barnum's pre-circus career on his birthday
Jul 5, 2010 · Myrtle Corbin Myrtle Corbin (1868–1927) was born with a dipygus twin ... She later went on to marry a doctor and gave birth to five children, ...
[2]
An extremely rare case of classic complete caudal duplication - NIH
Only two cases of dipygus were reported in the English literature till date – the famous Francisco Lentini and Myrtle Corbin, who went on to live for many years ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[3]
Greatest living wonder of the age: 4-legged child! | Texas Disability ...
Aged one year old, Myrtle is wearing a short dress allowing for the prominent display of Myrtle's four legs, a result of Myrtle's dipygus condition, the rarest ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[4]
Myrtle Corbin, seated
Verso: Text reads, "Myrtle Corbin, taken 1907, double lower bodied woman. Born in Cleborne, Texas. Had four legs and twenty toes but walked with an effort as ...
[5]
Myrtle Corbin with her husband and daughter
Verso: Text reads, "Myrtle Cobin the 4 legged woman for Clebourn, Tex. Double bodied from waist down. Posing with her husband and one of her 5 children.".
[6]
Myrtle Bicknell - Bhamwiki
Jun 22, 2015 · Josephine Myrtle Corbin Bicknell (born May 12, 1868 in Lincoln ... Josephine was the second daughter born two William H. Corbin and the ...
[7]
Josephine Myrtle Corbin Bicknell (1868-1928) - Find a Grave
Daughter of William H. Corbin (b. GA) and Nancy Williams (b. AL) Corbin. Married James Clinton Bicknell, June 12, 1886, in Blount, AL.∼Josephine Myrtle Corbin ...
[8]
She had one husband, five children, and four legs
May 6, 2019 · Myrtle Corbin was known far & wide in the late 19th century as the 4-Legged Woman. One pair belonged to her; the other to her dipygus twin.
[9]
Ella Harper & Myrtle Corbin - More Than a Curiosity
Jan 29, 2024 · Josephine Myrtle (called "Myrtle") Corbin was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee on May 12, 1868. Her parents were William H. and Nancy (née ...
[10]
https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/ext/dw/101190763/PDF/101190763.pdf
[11]
Is This Josephine Myrtle Corbin, 'The 4-Legged Girl'? - Snopes.com
Jun 29, 2021 · A dipygus, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, is "a teratological fetus with a double pelvis, genitals, and extremities."
[12]
The Story of Myrtle Corbin, the Real Life Four Legged Woman
Feb 5, 2025 · Myrtle was the Corbin's third child, including a daughter from Nancy's first marriage ... myrtle corbin gave birh to 5 children. Thanks to ...
[13]
Myrtle Corbin, The Four-Legged Woman Of Texas - Factinate
The next years of her life, Corbin spent raising her children. The family made a move from Tennessee to Texas, and there, the children slowly reached maturity.
[14]
The Story Of Myrtle Corbin, P.T. Barnum's "Four-Legged Girl From ...
May 17, 2018 · For all intents and purposes, Josephine Myrtle Corbin was a normal girl. ... William H. Corbin was 25, and his wife Nancy was 34. Second, the ...
[15]
20 Tremendous "Human Curiosities" of P.T. Barnum's Shows
Aug 14, 2018 · Myrtle Corbin, the Four-Legged Woman. Josephine Myrtle ... From the start, she referred to herself as the Four-Legged Girl from Texas.Missing: salary | Show results with:salary
[16]
James Clinton Bicknell (1868–1946) - Ancestors Family Search
He married Josephine Myrtle Corbin on 12 June 1886, in Blount, Alabama, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He lived in ...
[17]
James Clinton Bicknell (1868-1946) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
Aug 13, 2018 · He married 1) Josephine Myrtle Corbin on June 12, 1886 in Blount Co., Alabama. Together they became the parents of Nancy Estelle Bicknell ...
[18]
Nancy Estelle Bicknell (1891–1982) - Ancestors Family Search
Nancy Estelle Bicknell ... Myrtle Corbin, was 23. She lived in Johnson, Texas, United States in 1920 and Justice Precinct 1, Johnson, Texas, United States ...
[19]
Josephine Myrtle Corbin (1868-1928) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
Jan 24, 2023 · When she was 13, she joined a sideshow circuit performer. Marriage. At 19, she left the circus tent, and married James Clinton Bicknell on 12 ...
[20]
The woman with two wombs - Thomas Morris
Sep 28, 2020 · She had four legs (two of them rather small and weak). In her early teens, under her maiden name Myrtle Corbin, she had been exhibited in freak ...
[21]
Caudal duplication | About the Disease | GARD
Caudal duplication is caused by genetic mutations, also known as pathogenic variants. Genetic mutations can be hereditary, when parents pass them down to their ...
[22]
An extremely rare case of classic complete caudal duplication
Dipygus is a complete caudal duplication deformity in its severest form. The structures derived from the embryonic cloaca and notochords are duplicated to ...
[23]
American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous ...
But what about Eli Bowen, the legless acrobat? Myrtle Corbin, the four-legged woman? Or Prince Randian, the human torso? All these and more were stars during ...
[24]
The four-legged woman was a real person, not some ghoul or monster
I was surprised to see an image of Myrtle Corbin used on Halloween decorations, writes Marshall Ward ... Purchase Gift Purchase Access. ×. An error occurred.
[25]
[PDF] Archiving Possibilities With the Victorian Freak Show - eScholarship
... American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History's Most Wondrous and. Curiously Strange Performers. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. “Harvard Theatre Collection ...
[26]
The Shocking True Story of the "Four-Legged Girl" - YouTube
Dec 8, 2022 · In today's episode we are looking into the life of Josephine Myrtle Corbin, an American sideshow performer born as a dipygus who gained fame ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[27]
Myrtle Corbin: The Four-Legged Woman Who Defied the Odds
Nov 16, 2024 · Myrtle Corbin, often known as the “Four-Legged Woman,” was a remarkable figure in 19th-century America. Born with an extraordinary physical condition.Missing: earnings | Show results with:earnings