The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-22
TIE sIdMESE TWINS.
Chang and Eng - Their History-The
Tie that Binds Them-Phystcnl and
Mental Characteristics.
The London Times has the following inter-
estine facts concerning the Samese twins:

estine facts concerning the Siamese twins:
The return to this country of the Siamese
twins thirty-eicht years after their first ap-
nearance here, has naturally excited a good
deal of interest and curiosity, both among men
of science and the general public. The rumorr
that preceded them, to the effect that the bond
of their long union might, perhaps, be shortly
savered has added much to this feeling, and
has given occasion to some very unnecessary
sensational writing upon the subject. For this
reason. and also because some of the popular
notions about twins have been even aggravated
with regard to them, we think it desirable to
place before our readers short account OF the
tacts in the case.
born in Nav. 1911, so that they are not quite
fifty-eicht wears old. They are Of short sta
tnre. Eng. tho taller OF the Two, being Ave feet
two and q half inches high, and Chang about
m inch shorter. 1hey have had excellent
health throughout life, and possess good mus
oular development. The band that supports
them sprang originally from the breast bone,
and kept them face to face; but their efforts,
during childhood. to obtain amore comfortable
position, produced some bending of the yield
ing structure concerned. 80 that they can now
rtand nearly, but not quite, shoulder to
shonlder. in which position they usually cross
Their adjacent arms behind each others
back. When necessary, however, as at meals,
they can bring both arms forward without in
convenience. The band itself is about four
inches in length. It is rather more than
seven inches 10 circumference in the cenue,
and more than three inches deep with its
junction with each body. 1t is, unfortunately,
TO thick to be under any circum stances trans
lucent; oil attempts to see by means OF the
line or magnesium light the nature OF the con-
tanned structures have ended IN failure; AS
far as can be estimated by the touch, the band
contains, at its upper part, the cartilages ofthe
two breast bones curved around and meeting
Of its centre, and united by sort of imperfect
Joint. To these cartileges are added those OF
some adjacent ribs, PROBABLY the seventh and
eighth. at the lower part, 1T is quite certain
that the general cavity OF the abdomen OF each
brother enters the band; but whether
these cavities communicate in the centre
can not be ascertained with certainty.
The nerves of each brother pass little be-
yond the middle of the band, 30 that
touch is felt by both over central portion
about an inch wide; but beyond that portion
only by the brother that is touched. The blood
vessels of each must IN like manner communl-
cate, but there ls nothing like interchange OF
blood between the two, and some experiments
agents introduced into one body have no ap.
preciable effect upon the other. The hearts OF
the two brothers are perfectly distinct, and
even somewhat unlike; the pulses Of the two
at the time of our inspection were little df-
ferent in frequency, aud decidedly 30 IN char
acter. On various occasions they have been
extremely different. The respiration ol the
It NAV, therefore, be said broadly that there
is no moro intimate union between Chang and
Eng tnan such as might be effected artifcially
between any two persons. They are in every
respect two men, with the misfortune OF the
connecting band. Their mental operations are
entirely distinct, Of which we can, perhaps,
give no better illustration than by saying, that
when playing chess against an adversary they
consult one another about tho next move:
Their original resemblance, the necessities OF
their position. and the fact that their expo.
rience must have been absolutely Identical
throughout life, having combined to bring
them into an extraordinary degree OF concord
in thought and action, but into no greater de-
than he an@ fSs'r senaradh fn Of
itself declares their perfect scparateness 1t ap-
pears to have arisen entirely ftom the conflict
Ing claims of the respective families, and to DO
only as o sacrifice OF the Ira-
ternal bond 10 the interest of children. Most
probably, however, tho idea will not be car
ried iuto execution. The surgeons who have
as vet been consulted are decidedly opposed to
il. and think the danger too great to be incur
red for the sake Of the doubtful benefit. The
connection between their respective blood
vessels is such that they must necessarily have
any blood disease in common; and it is proba..
Bile that the last illness of one, from physical
as we'll as moral causes, would be the last Ill
ness also of the other. The separation would
present no surgical difficulty, and might be &C.
complshed at any time, il the accidental i'll
ness or death OF the one brother might require
it. But, putting accident aside, and dealing
with constitutional causes, it is most probable
that the brothers, loving in their lives, in death
will not be divided.
1t has plainly been their study, and has be-
come their second nature, to act IN harmony
with each other in all things. They move as
If by one impulse, and without verbal commu-
nication, and it is said, indeed that they rarely
talk to each other. But each would feel the
others impulse to move before o oystander
could detect it. They take pleasure in rowing,
shooting. fishing and sports that they can pur-
sue in concord. They take no pleasure in
sports that would place them in oppostlon-.as
in playing games OF chance or skill against
each other, although perfectly capable OF play
ing such il they cared Tor them. We need only
add that they appear to be very courteous and
intelligent gentlemen, and we are informed
that during their long lives in North Carolina
they have earned the respect and esteem OF
their neighbors alike in their business connec-
tions and in their private lives. They were
Shareholders. enthusiastic Southerners, and lost
largely by the collapse Of the South. We trust
their visit to Europe may IN some degree re-
pair their shattered fortunes, and may afford
them the means Of returning in tranquility to
their former mode OF life.
THE LONDON SToREs.-An American on his
t.,roI, r-r;4oo to tho Roarnn Commercial Bul-