The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-30
ONE DEATH FOR 2
SiameSe Twins Die When Jaun-
dice 0vercOmes JOsefa.
Too Weak for Operation to At
tempt Saving One.
ROSA WANTED To Die ALSO
Twin Pleaded That No Trial Be
Made for Her.
81 Would Have Nothing To
Live For" She Stated.
ROSA WANTED TO Die ALSO

Chicago. March 3O.-Josefa and
Rosa Black. the "Siamese twins. -
died early today. They died as they
were born and as they had lived
together. No operation was attempted
to prevent their death.
Death came to one within a few
moments after the other had passed
away. Josefa died a few moments
before Rosa.
The end of one of the strangest
cases known to medical science came
about 2:30 O'Clock this morning. AT
2 O'Clock DR.. Benjamin Breakstone
announced that he could no longer
feel the pulse of either and that death
was matter of moments. He also
declared then that an operation which
had been contemplated to save the life
useless, as each twin was beyond saw
ing
Rosa Asked to Die
Thruout yesterday and last night
Doctor Breakstone and other physi
clans had pleaded with Frank Black.
brother of the twins. and with Franz
Back, 12-year-old son of Rosa, to
permit the operation Under the state
law of Illinois, an operation may not
be performed without the consent of
relatives. Both the brother and the
son refused to agree to the operation.
Doctor Breakstone believes that if
the operation had been permitted he
might have, saved the life of Rosa.
Rosa, who was conscious most of the
time, also opposed the operation, and
pleaded with physicians to allow her
to die.
IF Josefa. dies. there is nothing for
me to live for" Rosa said.
Josefa was kept alive for many
hours by artificial respiration. Rosa
gradually became weaker and physi-
clans finally despaired of saving the
life of either.
Travelled in Europe Long.
The twins became ill about two
weeks ago, each suffering from
jaundice. They had about recovered
when a relapse occurred and two days
ago their lives virtually were despair
ed Of
Born in Czecho- -SIovakia. AS. years
ago. the twins had travelled in Eu-
rope for many years. Two years ago
they came to the United States. They
had been appearing here in vaudeville
for several weeks prior to their III
ness.
The two were Joined together at the
hips by a structure of bone and tissue.
Many noted surgeons had examined
them with the view to. determining
the possibility of separating them by
a surgical operation. The verdict al
tion was likely to cause the death of
one or both of them.
Bodies Were Separate. ..
Altho Joined together, physicians
said that each had a separate. indi-
viduaI body with only two or three
organs in common Turnout their ill
ness it was noticed that, altho i'll
with the same condition, they mani
tested different physical reactions,
such as varied temperature, respira=
tions and pulse beats.
BY their work in vaudeville and
the twins had accumulated
a fortune of considerable amount.
1t is expected that the son of Josefa
and the brother of the two will in
herit this altho the twins left no
will so far as has been learned.
Rosa married and was the mother of
the son. Little is known in this coun
try concerning the marriage or the
husband. who is understood to have
died The son is normal boy, physi-
clans declare He was at the bed
side when death came and wept
silently