Medicine: Multiparity

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One out of about 100 childbirths produces twins, one in 10,000 triplets, one in a million quadruplets. There are authentic records of several multiparities of five, but only five credible instances of six children being born in one pregnancy, and only one acceptable record of seven. Hence last week's dispatch from Porto Alegre, Brazil was well-nigh incredible: one Espinosa Nunez de Antunes of Bacacay had been delivered of eight daughters, two sons. All ten died at birth.