The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
Or. Pancoast's Report to the
College of Physicians
The Mysteries of the
Connecting Link.
TWO LIVES IN TWO BODIES.
Peculiar Anatomy Of Brain
and Liver.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb Is, 1874.
Your correspondent was at the meeting OF the
College OF Physicians and Surgeons tonight the
only journalist Independent OF the medical pro-
iesslon itself. The number Of medical profes-
sional men present was exceedingly large and the
fraternity were exceedingly particular that all
others should be excluded.
THE BODIES OF CHANG AND ENG
were lying upon wooden table directly fronting
the audience. while upon a platform near were
seated the committee VINO had conducted the
autopsy, along with the regular officers OF the
college. Dr. Pancoast, owing to the indefatiga-
BILE perseverance OF whom the fraternity
are indebted for their choice study tonight,
occupied q middle point, and read TO MS
cOngregated brethren the report or course 1T was
hlled with perplexing techncalities, which the or.
binary reader could not comprehend, ana winch
your correspondent is personally Obliged TO pass
by the board. But, apart from these the sequel
win manifest the most interesting details.
The twins themselves were not pleasant to behold,
their lower extremites only being covered with
slight drapery. The skin OF the abdomen anteri.
ally was thrown entirely back, exposing the en-
trails, the opening extending down the lower
extremities The body OF the one who died first
was pervaded with a dark blush tint while
the corpse OF the one who died last
was comparatively white; showing concluslvely
that the blood had flowed from the living into the
dead and cOagulated in the veins OF the latter,
rendering the same, as subsequently, shown, more
easily to be preserved. The navel, as heretofore
stated, was directly in the centre OF the connect
ting link, no other umbilicus existing
THE NERVOUS CONNECTION
Of each extended only to the middle OF the band,
and hence pin stuck ia the one made no impress
sion whatever upon the other Hence when Eng
awOke and found Chang dead, had he cut lump
Of flesh from MS brother he might
have saved his own life and produced
no pain upon himself, because as just stated the
construction Of the nerves OF the two was en-
tirely independent, extending only to the middle
OF the band. There was no anterior incison
made on the connecting Ink, all opera
tions proceeding from the rear. The band
was found to contain two pouches resting one
Rgains: the other, the outlines OF which might or
might not have been gone around with the knife
while the twins were alive; that is,
the question OF their separation is still
doubtful one. There is very little
nervous distribution identified with the pouches.
Reflections Of the pertOneal membrane occupied
the interior OF the band connecting with the
abdomen OF EACH and forming the separating sacks
or pouches OF the membrane.
THE LIVER OF EACH
to the other; hence the liver of one was
abnormany placed on the side contrary
to that in which reposed the liver of
the other. In fetal LIE it is conjectured
that the twain had common liver, as an injec-
ton in the mesenterc vein OF the one passed into
the mesenteric vein OF the other. They also pos
sessed common navel, or umbilical cord which
until the moment OF investigation was matter
Of great doubt.
ANOTHER PECULIAR FACT
Is that the brain OF the smaller was the most acute
and powerful although he was the most dissipated
o the pair. One was jolly 'hail fellow well metz
while the smaller one was peevish and fret
tul. Although the contract with the family
prevents any examination or the brain,
the great contrast III disposition shows the brain
OF each to have been totally and entirely distinct.
The investigation has, thus far, not proceeded to
the heart, and this organ is as yet involved in
mystery, as the brain and liver OF the two are dis
tant. AS a matter Of course, however there can
DOT be o single heart.
The report OF the committee, sifted down as the
lateness OF the hour renders it necessary amounts
to nothing more than the above. The livers, which
may have once been united are now separated
and on account OF its aDnormality furnishes in
itself curious study. The brain OF each is
independent, as likewise are the hearts. The
statement as 10 JOINT existing IN the middle or
the band is incorrect and ridiculous, there being
no division OF the car5Ilageneous attachment OF
such nature.
THEIR MODE OF RESTING IN BED.
1t is supposed that during LIE each slept upon his
stomach; while the nervous independence OF each
is again established from the fact that while one
slept soundy the other was known to be awake.
The cause Of the blood rushing from one to
the other at the time Of the demise is explained
In the fact that Independent of the
pouches, which are simply reflections OF the peri
tonial membrane, there exists arteries which. in
case OF separation during fe might have been
tied, as they could have been had the one who
died last cut a piece of flesh from the one who
expired first. Aside from celebrating upon these
c)nJectures but very little was done tonight.
Four plaster casts were seen and many photo
graphs were near, in order TO more fully explain
the stages OF the post-mortem. The most inter-
esting part OF the investigation is yet to come
namely, that OF the pericardiuin or membrane
W no