The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-05
CHANG AND ENG.
Success Of the Philadelphia Physicians
at Mount Airy.
SCIEN TRIUMPHANT.
The Dead Twins Removed to the Quaker
City for Dissection.

Dr. William Ill. Panc0ast, OF Jeners0n MEDICAL Col
iege Dr. Harrison Allen, OF the University OF Penn
sylvana, and DIR. T. IL. Andrews, also OF Jefferson
Medical College. assistant, deputed by the nsti
tutions 1t represents TO make an autopsy OF the
bodies OF the deceased Samese Twins, ar
rived at Mount Airy on Saturday at
ternoon last. after most fatiguing
journey by day and night over the worst roads
that mountainous and rugged country ever pre-
sented. There they were received by deputation
OF citizens on the part the town and families OF
the twins, consisting OF DR.. william HoIngsworth,
Colonel r T. Ghmer and Mr.. Frederick Graves, the
first being the late medical attendant Of the twins
and the latter gentlemen the agents and lawyers
OF their families.
VISIT TO MRS. ENG.
After private consultation as to the nature OF
their mission, the visiting medical gentlemen
were promised every facility on the part of the
committee Of reception, and it was agreed that on
the following day Sunday they should be es-
corted to the home of Mrs. Eng Bunker, where the
late twins were temporarily inferred. In
accordance with this programme about eleven
O'Clock the next day the commission attended by
the committee drove to the residence OF Mrs
Eng. which Is situated some Jour miles from Mount
Airy IN asouthwesterly direction. On the way they
passed the residence OF Cnang's family, which is
only three miles distant, and soon afterwards they
The news OF the arrival OF the commission having
spread with almost electric speed. a large number
OF people from the surrounding country came
pouring IN on horseback and in buggies, and soon
quite crowd were assembled, all of them an ous
and interested spectators OF the scenes they were
about to witness.
A CONSULTATION WITH THE WIDOWS.
The members OF the commission were then for
mally introduced to the widows (whO have been pre-
viously described in the HERALD OF the late twins
both OF them imprcssing the commission as very
proper, dignined and respectable women In brief
interview which then took place, and which was
participated in only by the widows the commits
sion and the lawyers and medical attendant of the
families, the members OF the commission deli
cately and deierentially set forth the object Of
their visit and urged the Importance to science OF
an examination of the bodies.
AN AUTOPSY CONSENTED TO.
After brief discussion, during which both the
ladies evinced considerable feeling they consented
20 the propositions OF the commission, on
the condition and with the distinct under
staining that the bodies should not be
injurously mutilated This the commission
agreed to In few moments Afterwards they
descended to the cellar where the bodies were in
tered. This was found to be dark but some
what spacious apartment, the floor OF which was
the naked earth, the soil above the substrata
OF rock being Of a porous and mouldy nature
! Accompanying the commission was q timer
! TO open the case In which the bodies had been
placed. The scene now was quite weird and SOL
emn one. The temporary sepuIchre was reached
! by northwestern door from another
basement apartment, and when the COM
mission descended the crowd OF Neigh
bors thrOnged in and stood silently
around the improvised tomb Of the twins. The
~ nj Enn
then lighted in one corner, the Aickering glare Of
which cast ghostly shadows OF the spectators
athwart the wooden ceiling and along the roughly
bullt granite walls Of the room.
OPENING THE TOMB.
In the midst OF deep silence and with great
solemnty the earth was then removed. from
around the outer wooden case which was lifted
from its position and conveyed to the apartment
without. Here the outside case was then taken
of, the charcoal removed and the tin case pre-.
scented itself to the view. Proceeding in
order, the timer then opened the latter
and the inside coffin was exposed.
With great care this was then carried to one Of
the rooms of the house up stairs where full and
excellent light was obtained, and after being
placed in proper position the cover was taken
off, All the members OF the commission and sew
eral others present bent eagerly over the coffin,
the first sensation they experienced being cadav-
eric OdOr, which, however, was not at all repul
sve. A white gauze muslin covering being drawn
on the
FACES OF THE DEAD TWINS WERE EXPOSED.
The features Of Chang were partially discolored
those OF Eng being natural. Both the bodies were
habted IN neat black suits, the CONN was
nicely lined with muslin, and, from the
indications so far, they seemed to be
in very good state OF preservation
Both the widows then came into the ROOM
each going to tue side of the coffin upon which
lay the remains OF her husbands; and with
mournfu sadness that was very touching they
took q final farewell and lett them to the doctors
This last tribute ELECTED from those present ex.
pressions OF respect and sympathy for the sorrow-
ing ladies.
PARTIAL EXAMINATION.
The members OF the commission, assisted by
those present, then disrobed the bodies and par
tial examination was made, no operation being
performed, and the result Of this was followed by
a medical consultation. From what could CLEAN
it was found the bodies, though very we'll pre-
served so far, would in few days be
in state OF decomposition, and that the
surgical operation, ii performed now, might en-
danger the ultimate preservation OF the now
dcfunct natural curiosity, consequence which
both the commissio and the families were anxious
TO avoid. 1t further decided tnat the facilities
for an autopsy were so meagre and insufficient
that it would not be wise to attempt 1t
on the present occasion, and that besides the
present examination and efforts to obtain good
Photographic views Of the ngamen. and bodies
the operations OF the commission would be limited
to partial embalmment 70 insure the preserva-
ton OF the bodies. number OF efforts to obtain
Photographic views were then made, resulting sue
cessfully in one instance only. After which the
partial embalmment was performed and the bodies
were once more covered IN the coffin.
THE BODIES TO COME TO PHILADELPHIA.
While the Photographic artists were busily en-
gagged with their instruments trying to obtain
negatives OF the dead twins the commission had
another interview with the widows, when regu-
lar agreement, the nature of which was
not divulged, was duly signed by both
parties. The commission at that time repre-
sented the present impossibility OF making the