The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-15
SIMILARITY BETWEEN TWINS.

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MIR. Francis Gallon has in the Novem-
Der number VI Fraser very nterestiin1g
article entitled the ''History Of Twins, as
a Criterion on the Relative Powers Of
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.. Gallon 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.tive 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
were 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.. Cation cites many mistakes made
by near relatives. Notwithstanding the
tying Of distinguishing ribbons to
them one is often fed. physicked
or whipped by mistake for
the other. In one case a doubt re-.
mains whether the children were not
changed in their bath; in another an ar
fist 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 hcli-
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 head 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..
Gallon found two cases to the contrary.
He knows of four or five instances of
doubt during an engagement of marriage.
Thus: "a married first, but 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 a 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, Il thought you were in Lon
DOM 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-.
with her, sNo, no; it's bad joke; you
know how anxious am" AS curious
feature, Mr.. Gallon notes the apparent
neutrality-suspicious., 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
tic finger; it was inherite 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.
pondences mentioned in the falling-of 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.five cases it appears that both
twins are apt to sicken at
the same time. There are also
cited the recorded instances of pathology
ical resemblance to twin brothers afflicted
with asthma and rheumatic apthalmia
(Trosseau' S ''Clinique Medicale,' quoted
in Darwin's STARVATION under Domestica.
tion,") and in two insane brothers (Dr.
Moreau's Psychologist Morbide'). In the
latter case both brothers considered them.