Josephine Myrtle Corbin, born on May 12, 1868, in Tennessee, had dipygus syndrome. Unlike her 7 siblings, she had 4 legs due to a fetal development anomaly, with a normal upper body and 2 sets of lower body parts.
Medical Details
- 2 pelvic bones
- 4 legs (2 outer functional, 2 middle underdeveloped with 3 toes each, not for walking)
- 2 sets of reproductive organs
- 2 anuses
She wore custom clothes and used her outer legs to move.
From Sideshow to Stardom
At 13, she became a sideshow “four-legged girl from Texas”. Her father promoted her as gentle and optimistic. She earned $450 a week at her career peak, performed with P.T. Barnum’s circus for 4 years, and traveled to many cities.
Love and Family
At 19, she married Dr. Clinton Bicknell and retired from the circus. She had 5 children, sometimes performed for extra income, and lived peacefully in Texas.
Legacy
Josephine died in 1928 from a streptococcal infection, buried in Cleburne Memorial Park Cemetery, Texas. Her case is still in medical journals.
Her life shows human resilience and adaptability, teaching us to be resilient in adversity, embrace uniqueness, value love, inspire others, and show compassion.