The Portland daily press., 1865-03-28
tFrom tn. FAiIadetphia Ledger.l
The Siamese Twins Gan the Bro theirs
exist separatelY2

The Siamse Twins have been lest from
public view for the last few years. 1t was
well known OF them that they had married
two sisters, and settled down near Salisbury,
in North Carolina, on a well stocked planta-
tion. liz addition to this, they have ample
Iqnds invested through their agent in New
York. Through North Carolina medical
gentleman now within our lines, we had the
other day an opportunity OF minute and full
particulars IN regard to them. Ever since the
War began they have continued to reside on
tnelr Plantation, and lived in the same Quiet
and harmony as ever until within two years
vi course no one ever thought of drafting
them, and their negroes prospered, except
that when out of temper from any cause, 1t
Was apt To work itself off in striking the first
one that came to hand, from which the best
escape was to keep out OF the way. Tie
brothers probably never would have had any
difficulty, but that their wives, though sisters,
turned away their hearts, and children were
the cause OF this enstraDgement. Up to the
lp. riod that each had five children, all prosper
cd well enough, but one had sixth, anu Ibis
awoke tenvy and jealously to such degree
that the Two sisters, not being bound together
like the twin brothers, would no longer live
under the same roof, though we believe, sill
in different houses on the same plantation.
The brothers are now it seems, about fifty
years OF age, but one, we believe, the smaller
and ieebler OF the two, looks, as 1T is said, now
fully ten years older Than the other. They
can turn back to back or face to face, but that
is as far as the remarkable bond which unites
them permits. 1t is almost certain that should
either die the other could not survive even
lor more than a few minutes, as there Is an
artery as large as the igmoral artery that 4
connects them. A few years since they cor
responded with some of the leading surgical
operators in London, as to the possibility OF
the umbilicus which Bnites them being cur,
so that in case of the death OF one, the life OF
the other might be saved. At the request Of
the London surgeon, they visited that city, ]
and many experiments were tried to deter
mine the safety Of such an operation. Among
other things, ligatuIe was tied firmly for a
few minutes round the connection between
them, SO as to prevent the circulation of blood |
through the artery But it saemed as it each |
would expire were it longer persisted in.
The smaller OF the two tainted away and |
lost consciousness, and there were syrntons |
that the same effect would follow 10 the other, /
but that the process could not be continued \
long enoughWithout endangerlng the ii him |
who was tirst toiaint Should the smaller and !
feebler die, it might be- worth while making |
the experiment OF operating, but the the pros
peet OF prolonging the lie OF the other would |
be very small. Should however the larger |
and more healthier OF the twin brothers die, |
there would seem absolutely no hope OF saw |
ing the feebler of the two. From all this it Is |
evident that though the connection between |
these two brothers is very remarkable and
perfectly unique, it is yet not SO absolute as
has been usually supposed s.