The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-23

though, undoubtedly, it is just here and no
where else, in the centre OF this cord, made up
of gristle and skin and for about an inch on
either side, that there are vessels and nerves
communicating from cne to the other. Here,
but nowhere else, touch on the space indi-
Gated is felt by both. Precisely here, and here
alone in the band uniting them, there is scnsa-
ton and nothing else whatever common to
both. II they are inclined to sleep, eat, &C..
and perform the functions of life with great
simiiar1sy, and agree always in their tastes and
habits, we must recollect that their surround
ngs, position, &C., have all been precisely alike
People forget, too that ono OF them is irritable,
the other very mild; one OF them ls the ,iarger'
stronger and the more intelligent, and he con
trois tho other. His slightest movement is fol-
lowed by the weaker one from necessity, and
not, as is generally supposed, from unity OF
will or harmonious action. They play games,
one against the other, and have qunrreled just
like other good brethren, and more than once.
While at sea. one wanted to take cold bath, to
which the other objected, and the captain bad
to interfere to produce reconciliation. How
absurd, then, to talk of perfect consentaneous
thought, action, &C., between them
The decision gwen by the profession In
Europe and America, thlrty-eight years ago,
when this case was first put on exhibition, was
that the ligament of union was cartilaginous,
probably prolongation OF the ensiform carti-
lage from the sternum, ard the chief, II not the
only objection to it's division has been that the
peritoneum might be involved IN the operation.
It was. moreover not one demanded by sur
gerry, for the twins had lived and might yet live
for years; the question OF separation, therefore,
was with themselves or their guardians. and
not the profession. There wore no Disagree
mcnts, no differences among the doctors on this
subject. The case was involved in no mystery
and the diagnosis was easily made; the London
Lancet, Of 1880, even declared that it was more
rare than curious. BY the ecraseur OF knife any
student, who has attended course OF lectures,
may perform this operation with success, and
which, moreover, should be attempted even by
any one in case of death, taking care to divide
the parts nearer tho ono deceased. 1t would
appear, then, that there are no good reasous
why those naturalized Asittics should hayo
been permitted to violate the seventh COM
mandment, by common consent, without even
rebuke.
AS there exists no academy Of physicians and
surgeons in Paris, the Siamese may be on q
wild goose chase, which their family physi-
clan might have prevented, as well as the Wild
and fancitul speculations regarding them
which are now crowding our daily papers. The
scientific world, too. especially those engaged
in the study of medicine and surgery, as tho
press is kind enough to observe, may not,
therefore, be intensely interested" after oil
aud the public may be free again to direct their
attention to something more important and
better understood than the contemplated sepa-
ration OF Chang and Eng.
TLouisutHe Medical JottrnIt.