SIAMESE TWINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27390, 16 May 1950, Page 5

SIAMESE TWINS

Attempt At Separation Fails DEATH UNDER SURGERY NZPA —Copyright OTTAWA, May 14. Canada’s only Siamese twins— Brenda and Beverly Townsend, aged six months —died at Edmonton today during an operation to separate them. The babies, who faced each other, were joined by a strip of flesh 7in by 3in over their chests and abdominal walls. Twelve doctors, headed by Dr E. Allin, participated in the operation, after warning that never before had one involving so extensive a joining succeeded. The biggest gamble was involved in dividing the common liver

of the twins, but Dr Allin said the tests showed that the gastro-intestinal tracts were completely separate, providing reason to believe the liver worked independently in each baby. The infants died about three and a-quarter hours after the operation began at Royal Alexandra Hospital. Two hours after the start of the operation hopes for success were raised when the twins were reported to be “ doing fine.” Beverly died first, although the surgeons fought for 40 minutes to save her life after her heart stopped beating. The operation on her had not been completed. The surgery had been completed on Brenda, whom doctors described as a “part blue baby,” but she also died. The twins, who weighed 91b 12oz when born on November 17 last, were 211 b today. They were healthy and bright. Specialists described the operation as the toughest Siamese twin surgery in medical books. They said that because there was no precedent they rehearsed the operation to make certain everyone knew exactly what to do. Two dolls were substituted for twins during the rehearsals. Congregations of nearly every religious denomination in Northern Alberta prayed for the success of the operation.