7 FEBRUARY 1987, Page 12

One hundred years ago SIR,—Many of your readers may be

interested to hear that in this parish, some months ago, the wife of a highly respectable farmer presented him with twins, one of whom was born with hernia. As soon as was convenient, `upon a Sunday morning, before sun- rise,' the farmer and his wife, with several neighbours and servants, pro- ceeded to a wood on his farm. They then, with wedges, split a young, grow- ing ash-tree, opening the split wide enought to permit the afflicted child to be passed through it . . . I am, Sir, &c., FRED. T. ELWORTHY.

The Spectator, 5 February 1887