Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-01
LUSUS NATURE.
1He T,nin Sisfers-.And The Siamsse Tirins.

An obliging friend has favored US with the
eight volumes in French, Of Buffou's Natural
History, Containing the Suppiement,) with a
II anslstion of that par which relates to the as
tonishiug prodigy Of the two twin sisters, Helen
and Judith. We publish il with great pleasure.
as proper accompaniment of DR.. Warren's
scientific description of the Siamese Twins, now
exhibited in Boston.
Buffon introduces thus his remarks upon
lfonsiers:'
"To hose varieties, as well specific as indi.
vdual, in ,hr Human SHe les, we may add
monsirosiiies; but w con6ne ourselves 10 the orr
dina,y phenomena Of Nature, without drailing
mere accidental occurrences. heless, il
i, proper to remark, that all the possible mon
s,ers nav be reduced 10 three classes. The FIRST
is Monsters Of tx ess-the I'd Of Monsters from
some natural defect, and the Sd Of these who
are so by unna. urai position OF the MEMBERS
a mong the grea, number OF examples, which
Na,ural,sts have gathered, from The different
Mons,ers of the Human Species, we shall cite
but one case Of each OF the three classes
"In The fist class which comp.ehends all the
Monsters by excess, there is none more remark
able han those which have double body and
form two PERSONS
son the 2e,h October, 1901, 'wo girls were
born a. Tori in Hungary, who were united to-
gcther par les Reins Cat The hips) (see Button,
Supplement to Natural History, vol Sln, page
4I6.) They lived twenty one years. AZ the
age Of seven, they were carried 10 Holland. Fog
land, France, IlaIy, Russia. and 10 almos' every
port of Europe. When nine years old good
priest purchased them and put Them into con-
ven, al Petersburg, where they remaiped unui
twenty one, which was until their death or the
Esd February, 1923. Mr.. Jusus Joanues Tor
don on the Sd July, I757 a detailed history Of
these Twin sisters, as it was found by him a.
mones the papers Of MS father in law, Carl
Rayeer, who was the ordinary surgeon 10 the
convent where they lived They were called
Helen ard JUDITH Helen was born three hours
before Judith.) The former was very tall and
very dexterous; while Judith was short and
little humpbacked. They were joined par les
Reins, and could not see each other, except by
turning their head. When in company, no diff
ference was perceived from o her women. They
agreed well and were very affectionate. AT six
years OF age, Judith became palsied on The left
side; and although she was apparently cured,
there was always an impression left, which oc'
casioned her mind o be weak and heavy. On
the contrary, Helen was handsome and lively,
was very intelligent and even witty They had
at the same time the small pox, also the mea.
sles; but all other sickness or indispo.itions
came a, different periods. Judith was subject
to cough and fever; and Heen'enjoyed excel
lent health. AS they approached the age Of
twenty two years, Judith took fever, fell into
a Ie,hargy, and died on The 23d February, Poor
Helen was compelled to follow her. Three
minutes before the death Of her sister, she fell
into an agony, and died almost a, the same mo-
ment" (Some anatomical descriptions are ne
cessarly avoided. On dissecting Them, they
were found to have each had q separate intcsii.
nal canal, terminating in the same excrementi,
tious duci.)