The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-29
by International News Service

by hhtefnhtionsi news SSrslce.
CHICAGO, March 29.-Surgeons
today awaited the crisis in the
condition Of Josefa Black. one
Of the "Sialhe5e twins in order TO
be prepared at moments notice
to save the life of the other. Rosa.
Josefa, stricken with iaundice
several days ago. has been un-
conscious for forty-eight hours.
Both Sinking Rapidly.
The sisters, who are forty.two
years old, are Joined together from
the lower stomach to the hips.
Late today physicians reported
that both of the twins were sink
ing rapidly and that their cOndi-
ton is practically hopeless.
Dr. Benjamin II. Breakstone said
that II he became convinced that
Josefa could not recover he would
perform an operation to separate
them and save the life of Rosa.
The doctor was somewhat skep-
tical of the success of such an
operation, however. Its success
would be entirely dependent upon
an undetermined factor-whether
or not each sister constitutes a
separate and distinct physical and
physiological entity.
DR.. Breakstone has carefully ex-
amined the patients to eliminate as
far as possible the element of
chance in such an operation.
Each twin" said DIR. Breakstone,
possesses respiratory, cardiac and
gustatory systems; each has two
lungs, heart and a stomach. II
one should die. it would he possible
for the other to survive"
Link a Foot Thick.
The physical link that joins the
twins is about one foot thick, and
is largely composed of flesh and
muscular tissue.
Rosa, who first became i'll, but who
is now In fairly good condition, faces
prospective death courageously. AL
though she has lapsed into a coma
tose state, she is conscious of her
predicament, and accepts the situa-
ton resolutely. During her wakeful
moments today she tenderly stroked
the head OF her rapidly declining sis
tr and whispered words of sympathy,
The case has aroused the greatest
interest among medical men. Sur
geons from all parts of the country
are besieging DIR. Breakstone with
requests that they be permitted to
attend the operation IL 1t becomes
necessary.
To Operate Immediately.
The surgeons have the written
consent of the twins to cut away
the dead one Immediately her heart
stops, in an effort to save the sur
vivor, but they admit there Is not
one chance in a thousand the opera
ton will be successful. Rosa feels
that she will die Immediately after
Josefa expires. Her chief regret Is
leaving her boy, eleven years old,
whose father, an Austrian colder.
perished in the world war.
IT can't go away from Frank" '"
she said last evening, land yet,
can't exist without Josefa. Josie's
part of Rosie, Rosie is part Of
Josie. And together 1t is good.
But separated-Ach!'
But Rosa faces death blithely.
| She tries to comfort her sister as
they lie back to back. the while
death stands Just inside the door.
waiting. Rosa urges Josefa not to
worry and seeks to divert her mind
with funny little anecdotes of their
old home in Czecho-Slovakia. but
Joscfa is deaf to her sisters efforts.
Unable to Dictate viii.
J. L. Triska, an attorney for the
twins. sits at the bedside, hoping
vainly that Josefa will revive long
enough to dictate her will. The law
requires two wills, as the law con.
siders the twins as separate indi-
Viduals