The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24
TIE SIAMESE TWINS
DIR. HOllinsworth's Story Of the
Double Death.
NO PHYSICIAN CALLED IN.
The Family Averse to Any Scientific EXAMINES
ton Of the Bodies, Which Are Embalmed
and jealousy Guarded Efforts ON Behalf
of Science to Overcome the Objection.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. %, 1874
In an interview with DR.. Holnsworth, OF North
Carolina this evening he stated to your CORE
spondent the following facts :-"rhere was a mis-
take made in the telegram which was published in
the newspapers this morning announcing that l
attended the Siamese twins at the time OF their
death.
NO MEDICAL ATTENDANCE IN THEIR LAST ILLNESS.
No one attended them. / was their family
physician two years ago, but subsequently they
have had no regular medical adviser at ALL As
many particulars concerning their death have
already appeared in the HERALD as can be learned
at present. for met HERALD correspondent ON
the road from the plantations Of the twins.
THE DOUBLE DEATH.
About all at present understood is that little
negro girl says they went to bed, and the next
morning one was dead. The other called feeby,
and when an attendant entered he found one sti6
and cold and the other rapidly becoming so. beirg
in q clammy prespiring state, ana showing upon
his cOuntenance every symptom OF approaching
death. He realized his situation, and said that he
could not live"
To give the full statement Of the Doctor would be
simply to reproduce all that has appeared in the
HERALD hitherto from Mount Airy, where the
twins lived and died.
THE BODIES CAREFULLY PRESERVED.
The bodies of the twins are now in an embalmed
state and can be kept III perfect preservation for
long time to come. So wary are the members OF
the two families that the bodies are placed in q
position from which they cannot possibly be ap-
preached without their knowledge.
JEALOUSY OF SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY.
The wives of Chang and Eng have positively re.
fused to allow post-mortem examination, but
they wish to consult first with their children,
several Of whom are in distant parts of the State.
In N fha do nrivQn
and one whose life seems to be nearly run out, iS
strenuously opposed to the post-mortem, anc
owing to her peculiar bodily condition, the othe.
members OF the family are very reluctant 70 do
anything SO exceedingly disagreeable to her.
EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE DECISION.
Every inducement that can be offered will be
brought to bear upon the daughter and all the rest
OF the children, with the view OF securing study
so beneficial and so curious to medical, phys0-
logical and psychological science. Every effort
Will also be made to have the examination take
place either in New York or this city, where the
very best medical skill and authority can witness
and take part in the post-mortem.
Concerning the present location OF the bodies
DR.. Holinsworth maintains the EXTREMIST reti-
cence, only stating that, as they are situated now,
they are so guarded that
THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY BE GOT AT.
The Doctor seemed to speak If the families
were exceedingly suspicious, and had taken every
precauton to prevent any qualification OF I'M
licensed scientific curiosity. DR.. Holnsworth has
left representative at home from whom he daily
expects correspondence, which will inform him Of
the final decision at which the members of the
family arrive. great deal OF interest is mani
tested by the local medical fraternity, and the
hope is entertained that the post-mortem may
take place here.