THE SIAMESE TWINS.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1884, 29 April 1869, Page 3

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

The return to this country of the Siamese twins some thirty-eight years after their first appearance here, has naturally excited a good deal of interest and curiosity, both among men of science and the general public. The rnmour that has preceded them, to the effect that the bond of their long union might, perhaps, be shortly severed, has added much to this feeling, and has given occasion to some very unnecessary sensational writing upon the subject. Eor this reason, and also because some of the popular notions about twins have been even exaggerated with regard to them, we think it desirable to place before our readers a short account of the facts of the case. Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins, were born in May, 1811, so that they are not quite fitty-eight years old. They are of short stature, Eng, the taller of the two, being sffc. 2£in. high, Chang about an inch shorter. They have had excellent health throughout life, and possess good muscular development. The band that unites thensprang originally from the lower portion of each breast bone, and kept them face to face; but their efforts during childhood to attain a more convenient position produced some bending of the yielding structure concerned, so that they can stand nearly, but not quite, shoulder to shoulder, in which position they usually cross their adjacent arms behind each other's back. When necessary, however, as at meals, they can bring both arms forward without inconvenience. The band itself is about four inches in length. It is rather more than seven inches in circumference in the centre, and more than three inohes deep at its junction with each body. It is unfortunately thipk to be under any circumstances translucent; and all attempts

to see by of the lime or magnesium light the nature of the contained structures have ended in failure. As I far as can be estimated by the touch, ! lihe band contains at its upper part the cartilage- of the two breast bones, curved round and meeting at its centre, and united by assort of imperfect joint. To these cartilages are added those of some adjacent ribs, probably of the seventh and eighth. At the lower part it is quite certain that the general cavity of the abdomen of each brother enters the band; but whether these cavities communicate in the centre cannot be ascertained with certainty. The nerves of each brothefcpass a little beyond the middle of the band, so that j a touch is felt by both over a central j portion about an inch in width; but beyond that portion only by the brother that is touched. The blood vessels of each must in like manner communicate; but there is nothing like interchange of blood between the two, and some experiments have been made which show that chymical agents introduced into one body have no appreciable effect upon the other. The hearts of the two brothers are perfectly distinct, and even somewhat unlike, the pulses of the two at the time of our inspection were a little different in frequency and decidedly so in character. On various occasions they have been extremely different. The respiration of the twins is wholly independent of each other. It may, therefore, be said broadly that there is no more intimate union between Chang and Eng than such as might be effected artificially between any two persons. They are in every respect two men, with the misfortune of this connecting band. Their mental operations are entirely distinct, of which we can perhaps give no better illustration than by saying that when playing chess against an adversary they consult one another about the next move. Their original resemblance, the necessities of their position, and the fact that their experience must have been absolutely identical thronghout life, have combined to bring them into an extraordinary degree of concord in thought and action, but into no greater degree than may be thus perfectly accounted for. The very question about their separation of itself declares their perfect separateness. It appears to have arisen entirely from the conflicting claims of their respective families, and to be contemplated only as a sacrifice of the fraternal bond to the interest of children. Most probably, however, the idea will not be carried into execuThe been consulted are decidedly opposed to it, arid think the danger too great to be incurred for the sake of the doubtful benefit. The connexion between their respective blood vessels is such that they must necessarily have any blood disease in common ; and it is probable that the last illness of one, from physical as well as from moral causes, would be the last illness also of the other. The separation would present no surgical difficulty, and might, be accomplished at any time if the accidental jllness or death of one brother should require it. But, putting accident aside and dealing with constitutional causes, it is most probable that the brothers, loving in their lives, in death will not be divided. It has plainly been their study, and has become their second nature, to act in harmony with each other, in all things. They move as if by one impulse, and without verbal communication, and it is said, indeed,'that they rarely talk to each other. But each would feel the other's impulse to move before a bystander could detect it. They take pleasure iin rowing, shooting, fishing, and sports that they can pursue in concord. They take no pleasure in sports that would place them in opposition, as in playinggames of chance or skill against each other, although perfectly capable of playing such if they cared for them. We need only add that they appear to be very courteous and intelligent gentlemen, and we are informed that during their long lives in North Carolina they have earned the respect and esteem of their neighbours alike in their business transactions and in their private lives. They were slaveholders, enthusiastic Southerners, and lost largely by the collapse of the South. "We trust their visit to Europe may in some degree repair their shattered fortunes, and may afford them the means of returning in tranquility to their former mode of life.— Times.