Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-22
Interesting Facts about the Siamase
IiIinS

The feshy link which connected the Siamese
Twins was about a foot in length, two inches
broad, and tour thick, and through it ran a
large artery and many VEINS, making their cir
culatOn Identical. Their breathing too, was
simultaneous when they were asleep They
were not so entirely one, however, but that each
had an entirely separate existence Their
senses were totally disconnected. One con ID not
feel hurt inflicted on the other, the ligature
being the only part in which they were sensitive
IN common. Much scientific discussion arose
concerning them, mainly bearing upOn the
question of possible separation. They travelled
with Barnum for five years, and tits believed
mat they saved $40, 900 each in that time
Chang was larger than Eng, and looked several
years younger. He was, too, the mental SUI
peTioI OF his brother, although both were irnO-
rant, and had Intelligence that scarceIy rose
above low cunning. Their faces were pecu-
liar, repelling and yellow in hue and Chang
was the most robust and good natured, Eng
was otten sick, and always mOrose and peevish
Ihey had 81 3eping room in Barnum's museum
as dld the other curiOsities and one night rum.
pus was heard in it. On breaking Open the door
the twins were found lighting. Eng was on the
moor, underneath Chang, who was choking him.
Although Chang and Eng were rich, they did
not live happily. Mrs Chang had the first
child, and it was deaf mute. The families
increased rapidly, until Chang had six chill
dren and Eng five. OF these children four
never heard nor spoke, although in all other
respects all were strong, and not deformed
Eight are living, the oldest, a daughter of II
having lately been married TO the lessee of a
ntlghboring plantation in North Carolina
About eight years ago Chang became convert
ed in religious revival and Eng also embrac-
ing the belief, they joined the Baptist church.
lhey were regular in their attendance thereaf-
ter, and retained their standing as good Chris
tans. Their tempers, however, were not i'm
proved by the spiritual change, and before
the emancipation their slaves were the
most whipped of any in the region
Inc cause of their moroseness as thew grew
older is believed to have been the probability
OF the fatal effect of ones death upon the other
The idea of separating them by surgical oper-
atom had been often preached, but physicians
had generally agreed that it would kill them
Therefore each was haunted with a dread of
being left bound to his dead brother, with al
most certainty of dying under any attempt to
sever MN from the corpse. While in PARIS and
London, they consulted the most eminent sur
geons. One experiment, however, dashed all
nope OF separate existence. The ligature was
compressed until all circulation of blood between
them was stopped. Eng soon tainted aud a re-
moval OF the compress was necessary TO prevent
death. This proved that neither could sustain
a separate circulation of the blood, and to have
cut the ligature would have killed both With
TINS knowledge, they returned to their homes
and lived as they had done before. Later the
health OF Eng grew worse, and chang was fire.
quently obliged, although well himself TO keen
10 his bed with his sick brother