Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-09-05
The siamese Twins.

The SialneSe kWRnSs
DR.. Warren, of Boston, lately communicated the
following among other interesting particulars in
regard TO the Siamese twins -
The connecting substance is very strong, and
has no very great sensibility; 1t can be severely
handled without causing pain. No Pulsating Ves-
sells can be felt in it, The slightest motion of one
is Immediately followed by the other in the same
direction, so that the same wish seems 20 influence
both this is quite voluntary, or habit formed by
necessity. They always face in one direction,
standing nearly side by side, and cannot without
inconvenience face in opposite directions. One is
rather more Intellectual being rather irritable, the
other being extremely amiable.
The connection between these twins might af-
ford some very interesting observations IN physi-
ology, therapeutics, and pathology. There ls
doubtless connection by minute blood vessels,
absorban,s, and nervous ilaments, which might
transmit the action Of medicine and the causes OF
the disease. AS far as known, any lndlsPosltion
ofone extends to the oher they are inclined to sleep
and eat at the same time and in the same quaHtl-
ty and perform in the same manner other similar
acts. It is supposed that when they are asleep,
touching one awakens both, but when awake, an
impulse given to one does not affect the oIher.-
The slightest movement Of one is so soon perceiV-
ed by the other that careless observer might
think they acted simultaneously. No part seems
to have perception common 10 both, except the
middle of the connecting substance, and its neigh
borhood for when impression is made at this
part it is felt by both while beyond this space II
is felt only by the one Of the side To which il Is aP-
piled.
From the limited vascular nervous connection
that can be discovered, DR.. Warren suPposes that
the influence of medicine, transmitted from one TO
the other, would be inconsiderable and the same
would apply to most dseases-for instance, a
slight fever would not probably extend from one
to the other, while diseases communicated through
the absorbants or capillaries, (smal Pox) would
be readily transmitted. The beatings Of both
hearts coincide exactly also the pulses under
ordinary circumstances; if one exerts himself with
ont the other, his pulse alone will be quickened.
while the latter is unchanged. They breathe all
so exactly together.
This harmony in corporal functions would lead
us to ask If there be a similar harmony i'll the in
telec,ual functions /; if they identcally the
same persons. There is no reason to suppose that
their intellectual operations are any more the same
than they would be in any two persons, confined
together, educated under similar circumstances,
and with similar habits and tastes.
Then would core the question whether they
could be separated with safety Perhaps such an
operation would not be necessarily fatal, but the
peri,oneum may be continuous from one to the 9TH
er, and the opening of this serious cavity might be
attended with dangerous symptoms. Should one
die before the other, it should be Immediately per-
formed, but no surgeon would be justified in al
tempting such an operation to free them from
mere Inconvenience; which inconvenience, if we
may believe the reports Of their domestic affairs
and fourshing condition in worldly goods, is after
all OF no great consequence.