Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09
THE SIAMESE TWINS.
Can Chang be Severed from Eng?---
Cl.ang's p Paralysis and E1,g's ConAne-
meEt in Bed--What shall be Done
% when Either Dies? trrft Fh~

meEt in Bed--What shall be Done
when Either Dies? .WE'' fh~
From tho New York Sun. y .- ,. a- rI
! II The fact that Chang, one Of Siam
csc twins, had been paralyzed was
some time ago reported by the press;
| and as the singular union of these
brothers, who are joined together
by q hollow cartilaginous band or.
| ligature, has been the cause of much
speculation and theorizing by emf
ncnt medical men in this country
and Europe, the following details,
which were given to Il representa-
tive Of the SIN yesterday bya gen
tleman who recently met them at
their home, will be of special inter
est to those who have taste for the
investigation of physical phcnome-
na: ......
| Chang and Eng visited Europe in
February last under an engagement
to exhibit themselves as a curiosity.
They remained abroad about six
months, returning to this country
in the Cunard steamer which arriv-
ed here Oh the 18th Of August.
While on the way over, as they
were seated at the table engaged in
q game of chess with the Captain of
the ship, Chang was struck with
paralysis of the right side. He be-
came utterly helpless and was oblig-
ed to keep in bed for the remainder
of the voyage. OF course Eng, al
though not at all affected in his own
person by the unhappy visitation
which afflicted his brother, sAyas
obliged to keep the latter company
and also confine himself to his
berth.
On the arrival of the steamer, the
twins spent several days in Taylor's
Hotel, in Jersey City, and Chang
improved SO much that the brothers
were able to sit up, and finally to 90
to their home in Mount Airy, Surrey
county, N. c.
Since their return to North Caro-
lima, Chang has gained steadily in
general health, but his right leg
continues useless. This, however,
does not prevent the twins from go
ing and attending to their ordinary
avocations. Those who have seen
this curious pair will rccollect that
Eng stands ON the right or off side,
and Chang Oh the left, and that the
inside arm of each is usually thrown
around the others back or neck. In
their present condition, the way
they manage to move from place to
place is this: Chang ties up his
right or inside leg i'll sling, and
with the support given him by a
crutch under the left shoulder, and
the aid of his brothers arm, finds no
difficulty in making his way around
the plantation as easily as ever.
The most singular thing about
this extraordinary case is the fact
that during the whole of Changes
severe and dangerous illness, Eng
has been in unusually good health
and spirits, not excepting the time
during which he was confined to his
brothers sick bed. lie has 10 wish
to be disunited from Chang, even
ii he could be convinced that the
operation would be free from. in
convenience OF danger; and a son
recently remarked to friend that
he did not believe that his father
would even consent to IS separation
should Chang die first. ,.
Distinguished medical authori-
ties have differed in regard to the
praeticability of separating the
twins by surgical operation,
though the general opinion has been
that it might be accomplished with
safety. Some have supposed that
the fact that the brothers have but
Il single uuebilicus, which is situated
i'll the middle Of the ligaturc that
unites them, indicates q conversion
in the circulation Of the blood
through the two bodies which would
render an operation dangerous; but
the circumstances attending Chang's
illness seem to dispose of this Oh
lection.
One peculiar Inconvenience has
resulted from Changes misfortune.
Chang and Eng, both of whom have
considerable families, keep up dis
tinct domestic establishments, and
their houses are separated by dis
tance of thrce-fourths of a mile.
Between the two residences flows q
rapid creek, which they crossed by
means of a foot bridge, consisting
of a single log, squared and hewed.
Over this narrow pathway the two
cross with ease, while they were
both well, but in Changes present
condition they find it impossible to
accomplish the passage. AS they
are men of no little force of charac-
ter, however, it is altogether proba-
BILE that by this time they have
found means to obviatc so vcxatious
4 difficulty.
AYoung Editors Experience.