The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-22
THE SOULS OF CHANG AND ENG.

Psychological Views on tho Deaths OF
tho stamesc Twins-A Doctors Opinion
ON their Separate 1ndividuaIities.
Few stranger phenomena have occurred in our
days than the curious freak OF nature which at
tached Chang to Eng. They have been gathered
to their Father now, and the psychological
discussions which their extraordinary con-
nectiOn gave rise to are again renewed by
the manner Of their dearh-s death which
no ordinary mortal certainly could envy. That
Eng should have objected to carry Changes corpse
on his back no at all can be surprised at. the
question Of their mental constitution Is, how
ever, the matter which will long agitate alike the
gossipng world ,and scientific circles. Mind. OF
course, can be resolved into nothing more iunda-
mental than itself. The individual facts pointed to
by this case largely circumscribe human expert
ence. There was so little community Of nature
between Chang and Eng that to many It long
since became evident that they had no common
mind. No moro comprehensive term than mind
can be used; but this strange death of the Samese
Twins brings the individual fact OF two people
being tied together for half century In bold relief
before the world
The HERALD reporter called yesterday on several
distinguished surgeons IN this city with view Of
ascertanng what they thought OF the deceased
couple who had been united in other bonds than
physycians had evidently not previously c0nsid.
cred the interesting case of Chang and Eng, being
oss ana Changes
temperature being largely favorable to the
practice OF physicians.
discussion OF the question with the gustO
would expect from a scientific man. he dismissed
at once the idea 80 prevalent that these two re-
markable and afflicted characters possessed but
one soul.
RHroRrHR-Dr Parker. ought not the lieature
which united these twins nave been cut long SINGER
DR.. PARKER-The thing, firmly believe, might
have been done; but these men ran their own
nd nj ltu
that seems to Cypress your mind, they were bent
on making money, and so determined were they
on making money that they never put themselves
nearer to surgeons than they did to the general
public: w. so.,. ,.,.
have ensued If the tie between these poor fellows
had been severedr
Dr. PARKRR-Certainly not Both eat what they
liked; they had their meals ut separate times.
There was nothing in common between them but
the band which tied them together. OF course,
the circulation OF blood was common to the two
RECOMMENDATION how did one live for two hours
Dr. PARKER-Ahi that is the trouble now There
is something In this case which will give larger
subject Of discussion than all the idealties OF
Berkeley. The great Irish philosopher dealt with
thoughts and feelings. Here we are face and face
to facts. Chang and Eng are reported to have been
REpoRrER-Oh when men who were like you
and me, doctor, kept their slaves the peculiar in
stitutlOn was recognized and the Siamese Twins
cam 1t be largely blamed on that score In these
days.
themselves. They made their fortune by an &C
cident-one Of those accidents which some times
startle the world.
that the scientific world would make as much of
the renowned heshy ligature as Chang and Eng
made OF it, and the reporters withdrew.
Philadelphia Scientists Moving.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 81, 1874.
Mayor Stokeley has telegraphed to the home
OF the Siamese twins asking that in the interests