The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-10
EMS and CHANG,
The Dead Siamese in the Hands
of the Surgeons.
CONTRACT WITH THE WIDOWS,
Severe Conditions Imposed
on the Doctors.
Probable Exhibition of the Bodies
After the Autopsy.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. Q, 1874.
rhe great scientific mystery Of the union OF the
Sia0esc Twins, the secret OF their vital organs
and the direct cause OF their mutual interde-
pendsnce for health and life and growth,
@ well as the full insight to their
mysterious mental and physical relations
are TO be ascertained. To that
band OF heroic and enthusiastic Socialists
who, IN face OF the most extreme difficulties, have
found their way TO the dreariest quarters Of the
south and brought hitnsr this quaint aad curious
human coalition, concerning which the Curiosity Of
the entire world now seems to be greatly aroused,
their professional brethren generally render the
hcartiest praise. The FIRST Orfical report OF the
commission OF physicians recently returned rom
North Carolina was rendered to the College Of
Physicians and Surgeons OF CHS city tonight.
ALL THE PARTICULARS
OF the journey. the condition OF the corpses when
the doctors arrived, the manner IN which they were
embamed and their mode Of conveyance here,
well as the report OF their family
adviser, DIR. Hollingsworth have already appeared
In the HERALD, from the special commissioner who
accompanied the medical agent on the route and
fully reported their work-on accoant OF which ac-
curate reports one of the doctors censured to-
night-so that there really remains nothing for
your correspondent here to communicate save
the actual circumstances Of the meeting this
evening. The College OF Physicians and Surgeons
was crammed to OVERLOOKING; the fellows ana
members OF the college filled all the seats and
standing room was scarcely to be found. All the
strict adjuncss OF secrecy which the
doctors had announced would be fully
carried out, in view OF the great scientific con-
course present seemed TO be entirely removed.
DR.. Ruscheuberger, President OF the Academy of
Natural Scientists, presided. He was ct time
q leading surgeon in the navy and is one Of the
most cultured and experienced surgeons known
to the profession.
HIS COURSE APPROVED.
DR.. Pancoast then appeared and related fully to
the meeting the difficulties and perpexties of the
trip, which were ''fuIy reported in their columns
by the HERALD agent who accompanied him.n DR..
Pancoast was then censured for giving such
publicity to his movements the plea be-
ing that he appeared to be seeking a
too great newspaper notOriety. The Doctor then
made full explanation, and so clear and conclusive
were his arguments that the college endorsed
both his action and the action Of DR.. Allen, who
was his companion.
The College then allowed the doctors the sum
of $3.50 each for their trip, after which com.
mittee was at once appointed to conduct
THE AUTOPSY.
Designating the appointees by the German term
OF Committee on Mntten Museum. The committee
appointed consisted of Drs. J. X. Paul and ID. W.
Mitchell who will act in concert with Drs. Allen
and Pancoast, each medical society and university
in town being represented.
In the above
SELECTION
the action OF the meeting was to the efect that
casts and photographs OF each stage Of the
autopsy should be submitted to the College, and
that the same be authorized to invite simply
members OF the profession TO witness the autopsy,
the examination being strictly withheld from the
public.
DR.. Saul D. Goss, OF JEFFERSON College, then in
PRODUCED DR.. Honngsworth, mentioned above, and
then the
CONTRACT WITH THE FAMILY
was read. Its full substance is as follows:-
The doctors will be obliged to conduct their
work with the greatest care, as the
contract made with the wives of Chang
and Eng is strictly legal document, and worded
that the slightest.variatl0n from it may be pun
ished with the most severe penalties. The docu
ment places the bodies OF the twins in the hands
OF the physicians upon the condition that the ex-
animation be conducted only so far as to settle
scientific mysteries, and forbids any unnecessary
mutilation of the corpses. 1t also states
that no photographs or cuts Of the
bodies, when under autopsy, shall be given
to the world by either the physicians or the photo
QraDncrS,
hibit the practice of photography during the post
norton, 1t especially states that all negatives Of
such photographs shall become the direct property
of Mrs. Chang and Eng, and all money reverting
from sale Of the same shall be their own.
THE LIaAMENT NOT TO BE SEVERED.
The contract forbids the cutting Of the connect
ing band in front, and strictly insists that all
dissection OF the shall be made from the rear
so as not to interfere with the appearance Of the
bodies after scientific curiosity shall have been
satisfied. The document furthermore states that
the bodies shall be carefully dssected, with the
view OF covering up subsequently all incisions
made by the knife.
PROBABLE EXHIBITION OF THE TWINS.
1t is evident that the families Of the dead SIAM
ese intend to use the cOrpses hereafter for their
own pecuniary emolument and that they intend
to conform all photographs and prints Of the dill
ferent stages OF the autopsy to their own personal
advantage. 1t is denied that the Commission
paid any large amount Of money to secure the
bodies, but in case Of breaking OF the
above contract the family will be able
to recover immense damages should the bodies
be found to be In an extreme state OF decomposi-
ton. The contract cannot be possibly adhered to.
Though the bodies were well cared for, and by
means OF all the resources OF the profession
used in the embalming process, one OF the
doctors told me that 1t Is was probable they
had suffered considerable decomposition, but not
not so much as to prevent perfect and satisfac-
tory autopsy. The autopsy will be placed in the
hands OF the committee, and the time Of COM
mencing the same will be left to them. 1t Is GER
tain however, that It will begin and that the
next two days will develop all.