The Grange advance., 1875-12-15
SIMILARITY BETWEEN TW1MG

| SIMILARITY BETWEEN TWIM9
- Mr.. Francis Galton has in the Noyem'
Der number Of Fraser very interesting
article entitled the ''History Of Twins, as
q Criterion on the Relative Powers ot
Nature and Nurture The materials on
which the article was based were
obtained by sending circulars con-
tanning thirteen groups Of questions to
twins or persons intimately acquainted
with twins. Mr.. Galton distinguishes
three classes, those strongly alike, mod.
erately alike and extremely dissimilar,
adding that when the twins are Of diff
ferent sexes they are never closely alike.
In eighty reported cases Of close SINH
larity, thirty. five entering very fully in.
to detail there were few where not a
single point of difference could be speci-
fled, in the remainder the hair and eyes
we're almost always identical. and the
height. weight and strength generally
very nearly so. The manner and ad-
dress are usually very similar; the into
nation when speaking commonly the
same, though it frequently happens that
the twins sing in different keys. Similar
ity is very rare in the handwriting.
Mr.. Ga!ton cites many mistakes made
by near relatives. Notwithstanding the
tying oc distinguishing ribbons to
them one is often fed, physicked
or whipped by mistake for
the other. In one case doubt re.
mains whether the children were not
changed in their bath; in another an ar
tist engaged to paint the portraits Of
twins, had to lay aside his work, and
when he resumed it he could not say to
which child the respective likenesses be-
longed. In many instances tutors could
not distinguish between their pupils. One
twin sister would take two music lessons
on the same day to give the other holi-
day. Two twins were fond Of playing
tricks, and complaints were frequently
made; but the boys would never own
which was the guilty one, and the COM
plainants were never certain which of the
two he was. One mead master used to
say he would never fog the innocent for
the guilty, and another used to fog both.
One twin brother visited another at co...
lege, and the porter refused to let him
out because he did not know which was
entitled to depart. Other brothers con-
stantly changed partners at balls
without discovery. Children arc usually
quick in distinguishing between
their parent and his or her twin; but Mr..
Galton found two cases to the contrary.
He knows Of four or five instances Of
doubt during an engagement of marriage.
Thus: "a married first, hut both twins
met the lady together for the first time,
and fell in love with her there and then.
A managed to see her home and to gain
her affection, though B went sometimes
counting in his place, and neither the
lady nor her parents could tell which was
which," One lady remarks that kissing
her twin sister was like kissing part Of
herself, as her hand, and not like kissing
another person. The author suggests
another experiment, to try how far dogs
could distinguish between twins by scent.
Of strange mistakes between twins in
middle life, two cases are cited; one
where an officer returned from India after
four years absence, and was addressed by
his father, 81 thought you were in Lon
don;" and another where an aged mother
had nervously expected the return of her
son from India, his ship being overdue,
and when he entered, said to him, mis-
taking him for the brother who lived
with her, ':No, no; it's a bad joke: you
know how anxious I am" As a curious
feature, Mr.. Galton notes the apparent
interchangeableness, both of expression
and character.
In seven of the thirty five cases of close
similarity both twins suffered from some
special ailment or had some exceptional
popularity. Two sisters had the defect
Of not being able to come down stairs
quickly, which was not born with them
but came on at the age of twenty. An
other pair of twins had slight congeni-
tai Texture Of one of the joints of the lit
tie finger; it was inherited from grand
mother, but neither parents, brothers or
sisters, show the least trace of it. In an
other case one was born ruptured and
the other became so at six months old.
Two twins at the age of twenty three
were attacked by tooth.ache, and the
same tooth had to be extracted in each
case.
There arc curious and close CORES.
pondenccs mentioned in the falling.off of
the hair. Two cases are mentioned Of
death from the same disease, in one a
brother died of Bright's disease, and the
survivor died Of the same complaint seven
months afterwards. In nine out of the
thirty.6ve cases it appears that both
twins are apt to sicken ut
the same time. There are also
cited the recorded instances of pathology
ical resemblance to twin brothers afflicted
with asthma and rheumatic anthaimia