The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-04-07

The Siamese Twins.
The Siamese Twins have been lost from
public view for the last few years. 1t was
we'll known of them that they had mar
ried two sisters, and settled down near
Salisbury, in North Carolina, on we'll
stocked plantation. In addition to this,
they have ample funds invested through
their agent in New York Through a
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
their plantation, and lived in the same
quiet and harmony as ever until within
two years. Of course no one ever thought
of drafting them, and their negroes SEEM
ed to prosper, except that when out nf
temper from any cause, it was apt Co work
itself off in striking the first one that
cam" to hand, from which the best es-
cape was to keep out of the way. The
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 estrange-
ment.
Up to tho period that each had FIVE
children, all prospered we'll enough, but
one of them had sixth, and this awoke
envy and jealousy to such degree that
the two sisters, not being bound together
like the twin brot hers, would no longer
live under the same roof, though, W.
believe, still in diff 'rent houses on the
same plantation. The brothers are now,
it seems, about fifty years of age hut one,
we beieve-the smaller and feebler of the
two-looks, it is said, now fully ten years
older than the other. They can turn back
or face to face, but that is as far as the re-
markable bond that unltes them permits.
1t is almost certain that should either die
the other could not survive even for more
than few minutes, as there is an artery
as large as the femoral artery that con-
meets them.
A few years since they correspondent
with some of the leading surgical opera
tors in London, as to the possibility of the
umbillicus which unites them being cut,
so that in case Of the death of the one the
other mi yht be saved. AT the request of
the London surgeon, they visited that city,
and many experiments were tried to de-
termine the safety of such an operation.
Among other things, a llgature was tied
firmly for few minutes round the con-
nection between them, so as to prevent the
circulation of blood through the artery
But it seemed as if each would expire if
this were longer, persisted in.
The smaller Of the ,wo tainted away,
an 4 lost all consciousness, and there were
symptoms that the same effect would fol-
low the other, hut that the process could
not be continued long enough without en-,
dangering the life of him who Was first to
faint. Should the smaller and feebler
die, it might be worth while making the
experiment of operating, but prosp, cts of
proIonging the life of the other would be
very small. Should, however, the larger
and more healthy of the twin brothers die,
there would seem absolutely no hope of
saving the feeber Of the two.
From all this it is evident, that though
the connection between these two broth
ers is very remarkable and perfectly
unique, it is yet not so absolute as has
been usually supposed. In the American
Cyclopedia, for instance, it is said that
"sheir respiration and circulation are gene
rally synchonus in the calm state, and
their hours of sleeping AMI waking, their
joys and sorrows, anger aud pain, ideas
and desires, are the same. They realize
the idea of perfect friendship, the two be-
ing one, and each one two in thought and
act" As to ideas being the same, this is
by no means more necessarily so than
their similar education and habits would
occasion. Each one can hold converse
ton with different person at the same
time One does not necessarily know,
therefore, what may be communicated t.,
the other, although their feelings and
passions are generally similar, owing to
the same causes operating upon both
Even this is not necessarily the case, es-
pecialy, we suppose, as to the degrees of
feeling. Since the breaking out of the re.
beIlion, they have both dressed iu the
Confederate gray, and they are both men,
bars of the same church, having united
with a small Baptist church in their
neighborhood, of which they have been
considered as very worthy members,
though born Siamese Puddle Ledger.