The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-23
THE sIAMEsE TWINS.

Life Nystery sOIyed--The OhieiaI Re-
port 10 the Philadelphia College OF
physieians--Physioi and Bio
graphical Facts.
A special meeting of the College of Ply
sicians of Philadelphia was held at their
hall Wednesday evening. for the purpose
of hearing the report of the commission on
the Slamese Twins, DIR. w. S. w. Rus
chenberger, United States navy, in the
chair. The bodies Of the Siamese Twins
being upon the table, the meeting pro.
ceeded to hear the report of Drs. Pancoast
and Allen. The report of the former was
mainly as to surgical details of import
ance to the profession, but having little
interest for the general reader. He spoke,
however, as follows of their
PERSONAL PECULIARITIEs.
As DIR. Hollingsworth is present, it may
be proper for me to mention fact which
that gentleman can corroborate, that Eng
was the stronger physically and Chang
was the stronger mentally. The same diff
ference was observable in their characters.
Chang was more irritable than Eng, es-
pecially since the attack Of paralysis with
which he had been atilicted-this being in
only to bear with the irritability of his as
soclate, but also to support one-half his
weight. Among other peculiarities, Chang
throw them in the fire. "a & tt
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
DR.. Pancoast-While the bodies are
being turned will take the opportunity
Of replying to one or two questions which
have been asked me- First, in regard to
the common sensibility of these individ-
uals. According to the statements we
received at Mount Airy there was a line
OF common sensibilty corresponding to the
median line of the band. DR.. Hollings-
worth says that if a pin was stuck into the
band OF the median line both of the twins
would feel it distinctly; but that, even at
slight distance to either side, the point of
pin produced an effect only on the twin
Of that side.
Another question has been asked me as
to whether either of them was ever put
separately under the influence of an anes-
thetc. | answer it by saying that so far
AS we know it never was attempted, but
that when, upon The final occasion, Chang
was anesthetized by death, Eng was for a
time unaffected. The story, as told at
Mount Airy, was that Eng walked up and
asked his son ,"How is your Uncle Chang9'
The boy said, ''Uncle Chang is cold. IN
Gle Chang is dead" Then great excite
inent took place. Eng commenced crying
out Immediately, saying to Ills wife, whom
they called in, "My last hour has come"
and finally sank away. He as in perfect
health when they went to bed.
They had been sitting up in a large
double chair made for their accommoda-
ton. Eng was smoking his pipe until he
became sleepy, and finally said to Chang,
"We must retire" Chang said that he
could not lie down comfortably. under
stand that when they went from Changes
house to Eng's house, where they died, it
was against the direction Of DR.. Holings-
worth, but, with their usual stubbornness,
they persisted in riding the distance in an
open buggy. To return to the narrative
of the night Of their death, after Chang
had refused to lie down, they walked
about the house for some time, and even
went out to the porch and washed their
hands and drank some water. 1t was
about o'clock when they went to bed
Then Chang died some time between that
and morning. his death not producing any
material impression on Eng. 1t was only
when the latter woke up and inquired about
the condition Of his brother that he was al
all affected.
As to the question, "What caused Eng's
death?" | am not able to tell. The
post-mortem which has been made does
not show the condition Of his lungs. Pro.
badly the valves of his heart were in dis.
organized condition, and probably also the
shock upon that weakened organ caused
death.
THE CAUSE OF Changes DEATH.
DR.. Allen-In my opinion, Chang died
ola cerebral clot. From inquiry at his home,
was led to believe that the lung symptoms
were not due to pneumonia =; indeed, were
not severe enough to have been so caused.
The suddenness of the death, the general
atheroma of the arteries, and the fact that
there had been previously an attack of GER
ebral paralysis, all indicated that death
was of cerebral origin. Eng probably
died of fright, as the distended bladder
seems to point to profound emotional
disturbance of the nervous system, the
mind remaining clear until stnpor came on
"a stupor which was probably syneopa.
THE TWINS TWO DISTINCT PERSONS.
DR.. Joseph Hollngsworth, to whom we
are indebted for the information given in
this article as to their habits of life and
the circumstances of their death, states
that he has known them as residents in
the neighborhood of Mount Airy, North
Carolina, for some twenty years, during
which time he has acted as their family
physician. Chang, who is said to have
derived his name from the Samese word
for "left," was the left of the pair, and
was much smaller and more feeble than
his brother Eng, whose name signifies
fright" Their habits were very active.
During the latter part of their life they
and their families lived in two houses,
abont mile and half apart, and it was
au inhexible rule that they should pass
three days alternately at each house. So
determined was this alienation main
tanned that sickness aud death in one family
had no effect upon the movements of the
father, and dying or dead child was on
one occasion lett in obedience to it (; indeed
DR.. Hollingsworth is very positive of the
opinion that the death OF the twins them
selves was the result Of this rule, or, at
least, was materially fastened thereby.
This will be made apparent hereafter.
The evidences during life that the twins
were phYsiologcally distinct entities were
very numerous and apparent. They were
different in forms tastes and disDositions