"Stone Babies"

[Deb D]

Okay, this probably sounds more than a little "ewwwwwwww!"

According to my elderly mother (amazing what surfaces from their hazy memories, at times!), ... before her parents left Anstruther, Fife, in the 1920s, my grandmother suffered two miscarriages.  The foetuses were referred to as "stone babies" ... and they were both, reportedly, taken to Edinburgh University, and preserved for study by medical students 

As gross as it sounds ... I can't help but be curious as to whether there'd be any records of this ... or whether my poor unformed almost-relatives ... might actually still be there? 

[CatOne]

Never heard of them before, if you type "lithopedion" in to the search engine, some interesting articles come up about what they actually were 

[toni*]

it might be worth contacting Edinburgh University

info[at]ed.ac.uk

[Deb D]

Thanks, Cat and Toni.   I knew what they were ... didn't know the medical term, tho.

I really ... erm  really ... don't know whether it's just too sick ...  to follow up. 

[aghadowey]

Might be worth getting in touch with Edinburgh University to ask if anything was written up about the babies at the time. Often medical articles give information on family illnesses, etc. which would be of interest.

[Deb D]

 

I never thought of that!

[KirstyG]

Hi Deb

The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh has an entire Large floor at Surgeons Hall filled with unusual specimens in Jars etc, including a number of foetuses. They are available to view privately by prior appointment I believe (or they used to be at any rate). I am sure if you contact them they would be able to tell you more.
http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/site/455/default.aspx

Kirsty

[Deb D]

I have now taken some antacids .... and e-mailed them