Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-03-14
THE sIAMEsE TWINS.
Conclusion Of the Autopsy In Phiia-
deiphia--No Explanation Of the
Death Of Eng.
From the Philadelphia Medical Times.

From the Philadelphia Medical Tines.l
In the present article it is not pur.
posed to give an elaborate history of
these famous twins, but only to put on
record certain well ascertained facts of
physiological interest in regard to their
life, to give all that can be aseertainsd as
to the circumstances of their death. and
to offer brief history of the manner in
which their bodies were brought to Phil
adelphia.
Chang and Eng Bunker were born in
Siam, in the year 1911. but lived for
many years in North Carolina, where
they were married and raised large fami.
lies Of children, Chang being the father
of nine, Eng of ten. DIR. Joseph Hol-
lingsworth, to whom we are indebted for
the information given in this article as
to their habits Of life and the crcum.
stances of their death, states that he has
known them MS residents in the neigh.
borhood Of Mount Airy, North Carolina,
for some twenty years, during which
time he has acted as their family physic-
ian. Chang, who is said to have derived
his name from the Siamese word for
''left, was the left of the pair. and was
much smaller and more feeble than his
brother Eng, whose name signifies
right" Their habits were very active.
During the latter part of their life they
aud their families lived in two houses,
about mile and a half apart, and it was
an infexible rule that they should pass
three days alternately at each house. So
determinedly was this alienation main
tained that sickness and death in one
family had no effect upon the movements
OF the father, and dying or dead child
VAS on one occasion left in obedience to
it; indeed. DR.. Hollingsworth is very
positively Of the opinion that the death
Of the twins themselves was the result of
this rule, at least was materially hastened
thereby. This will be made apparent
hereafter.
DIFFERENT TASTES OF THE TWINS.
The evidences during life that the
twins were physiologicaly distinct enti-
ties were very numerous and apparent.
They were different in form, tastes and
disposition; all their physical functions
were performed separately and uncon-
nectedly. What Chang liked to eat, Eng
detested. Eng was very good-natured.
Chang cross and irritable. The sickness
of one had no effect upon the other, so
that while one would be suffering from
fever the pulse of the other would beat
at its natural rate. The twins not rarely
suffered from bilious attacks, but one
never suffered at the same time as the
other; circumstance which seems some-
what singular in view of the close con-
nection which the post mortem has
shown to exist between the livers of the
pair. Chang drank pretty heavily--at
times getting drunk; but Eng never felt
any influence from the debauch of his
brother-a seemingly conclusive proof
that there was no free interchange in
their circulation.
The twins often quarreled aud, of
course, under the circumstances their
uuarrels were bitter. They sometimes
came to blows, and ON one occasion came
under the jurisdiction OF the courts. After
one of these difficulties Chang and Eng
applied to DR.. Hollingsworth to separate
them, stating that they could not live
longer together. Eng affirmed that
Chang was SO bad that he could live nc
longer with him; and Chang stated that
he was satisfied to be separted, only ask
ing that he be given an equal chance with
his brother, and that the band be cut ex
actjy in the middle. But as DIR. Hol
lipCsworth advised very decidedly
against this, and declined to interfere
cooler counsels prevailed.
INCIDENTS OF THEIR DEATH.
In August, 1870, Chang suffered from
n para,ytic stroke, from which be neve
fully recovered; and during the last yea
of his life he several times said to Dr
Hollinpsworth, ave can't live long.
On Thursday evening proceeding tnei
death, the time having arrived ior thei
departure from the house at which the
were staying, the twins rode mile an'
a half in an open wagon. The weathe
was yery cold-the night being the sc
yerest of the Winter. Chang had pee
complaining for some days OF cough
with distress and actual pain IN th
chest He was so unwell that his VIII
thoupht he would be unable to bear II
trim: but he finally went, On Frlda
morning Chang reported that he felt bel
ter, but in the night that ne Lau na
such pain in the chest, ana so mucn oi
tress that he thought he shouid nav
died.
The twins slept in room ny then
selves or with only very young cnil
present; and some time IN the course
Friday night they got up and sat py u
fire. As they were accustomed 70
this frequently nothing was though! OF
by those OF the family who saw tnen
even though they heard Eng saying
was sleepy and wanted to retire, an
Chang insisting on remaining up, Stain
that his breathing was so BAD tnai :,
would kill him to lie down. fihaii.
however, the couple went to bed agar
and After an hour or SO the family heai
.ome one call. No one went to the twiI
for some little time, and when they 81
On Chang was dead and Eng was awak
He told his wife that he was very pa
off'' and could not live. He complains
Of spopizine pain and distress. especiail
in h;s limbs. His surface was covere
With a cold sweat. At his request d
wife and children rubbed his legs an
arms. and pulled and stretched them 10
c;bIv' This was steadily continued III
IN he vent into stupor, which toe
nioce about an hour after the family we
Harmed. The stupor continued up
death: according to the statements OF u
family there were no commissions.
Dr Hollincsworth did not reach 4
house until after the death of both OF u
twins. He found the wives, ana espes
ally the children. averse to any posi- me- me-
tenn examination being made; but, sIt
mnch nersuasion, obtained permission
mt he bodies in position TO be pr
rssrvsd until he could Obtain some OF
from Philodelphia to perform the auto
sy. He placed the bodies, after tney q, 9,
been thoroughly cooled; in ~. conn Shi1
which was put in WOODEN 4. oo.; ~ II
was. in its turn, inclosed IN un' =,
whole being buried in dry cellar in sui
vay as to be imbedded in charcoal.
A. bearing upon the question, wn
was the cause of the death Of Cnang'
!. ;mportsut to state that DR.. Holline
worth had repeatedly told Chang q
Eng that, in his opinion, sha dea.n M !,
one did not necessarily compromise y
life Of the other; that he could separa, :,
them. BY cutting close to the poay o. " y
dead one, without killing the llving .,,, Un
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