The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-21
Tho siamese Twtns-Results OF the
Dissection.

Tho Slameso VW1ns-Aesults Oh the
Dissection.
From the unsatisfactory and insufficient
examination of the Siamese Twins, reported in
the Philadelphia Medical Times at least two
important points seem to be clear-the twins
possessed, respectively, completely separate
peritoneal sacs, and no important artery or
vein passed through the band of union or was
in any way whatever the common property of
the two. There was therefore no necessarily
insuperable obstacle to successful operation
for the separation Of these persons. They
might have been cut apart without any danger
that could be regarded as especially peculiar
to their case-as apart that is to say, from
the danger inseparable from any operation.
We say that from the report referred to
these points ''seem to be clear" because the
one in regard to the vessels is only made out
negatively. Neither of the gentlemen who
spoke as demonstrators in the case has told Us
afarmatively that there was no important
vessel passing through the band, and this
silence, considering the interest attaching to
the point, is remarkable, even in the absence
of such vessels but it would be 80 much
more remarkable if the vessels were there that
we are forced to the conclusion none were
found. It is Of course not credible that two
professors, working seven or eight days at an
anatomical specimen and giving portion
of their attention to determine the
contents of band four inches long
and eight inches in circumference should
have failed to discover in the band, if they
were present. the very few large vessels that
could have made an operation dangerous.
Colored plaster thrown into the portal system
Of one passed into that Of the other, but the
injection which passed freely up the aorta of
Eng indicated no communication, or DR.. Pan
coast would scarcely have failed to report it
in referring to the portal connection. 1t may
be taken, therefore, as clear that there was no
connection Of the circulatory system of the
two that might not have been dealt with by
the ordinary resources of surgery. All the re-
ports hitherto heard in regard to the fainting
of one or both the twins when pressure
was made on the band were either fe-
tons altogether or the exaggerations of I'M
easiness due to fright
Although each abdominal cavity was COM
pletely separate from the other there was
certain peritoneal implication due to the fact
that pouches formed by the periton@um passed
one another from the respective sides of the
band The little balloons that are peddled
along the streets as toys resemble closely,
when fully inflated and stretched to their ut
most the thin, transparent membrane called
the peritonmum, which completely lines the
abdominal cavity of human creatures as of
animals. Pouches of this membrane went
into the band from Eng's abdomen and went
beyond the middle line. Pouches did the
same from Changes side; but though these
pouches went thus beyond middle point they
passed each other and did not communicate.
Careful dissection might, therefore, have sep
arated the twins without opening either peri
ton@um, and the only obstacles to division
beyond mere skin and muscle were whatever
vessels may have been involved in the COM
munications of the portal system, and these,
from deductions made from the physiological
relations of the two during life, could not
have been considerable.