Year: 1869

Chang and Eng Their Histo,y-TAe he Tie that
Binds Them Misical and Mental Carocteris-
tics.


The London Times has the following interest
ing facts concerning the Siamese Twins:
The return to this country of the Samese


twins, thirty eight years after their first ap,,


pearance here, has naturally excited good


deal of interest and curiosity, both among men


Of science and the general public. The rumor


that preceded them, that the bond Of their long


union might perhaps, be shortly severed, added


much to this feeling, and has given occasion TO


some very unnecessary sensational writing up


on the subject. For this reason, and also be-


cause some of the popular notions about tne


twins have been aggravated with regard to


them, we think it desirable to place before our


readers short account of facts in the case.


Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins, were born


in May, 1911, so that they are not quite 90


years old. They are of short stature, Eng, the


tallest OF the two, being five feet two and hall


inches high, and Chang about an inch shorter


They have had excellent health throughout


life, and also posses good muscular develop


ment. The bend that supports them sprang


originally from the breast bone, and kept them


face to face, but their efforts, during childhood


to obtain amore comfortable position, produced


some bending of the yielding structure concern-


ed, so that they can now stand nearlS-hil:
quite, shoulder 70 Shoulder, in which position


they usually cross their adjacent arms behind
each others back. When necessary, however,
as at meals, they can bring both arms forward


without Inconvenience. The band itself is
about four inches in length. 1t is rather more
than seven inches in circumference IN the cen
tire, and more than three inches deep at its
juction tn each body. 1t is unfortunately,
took thick to be under any circumstances trans
lucent all attempts to see by means ofthe line
of magnesium light the nature OF the contained
structurs have ended in failure. As lar as can
be estimated by the touch, the band contains
st its upper part, the cartilages OF the TWO
breast bones curved around and meeting at 1ts
centre and united by sort of imperfect joint.
To these cartileges are added those ot some a.
jacent ribs, probably the seventh and eighth.
At the lower part, it is quite certain the gener-
al cavity of the abdomen of each body enters
the band but whether these cavities commu-
nicate in the centre cannot be ascertalned with
certainty. The nerves OF each body pass ut
tie bevond the middle ofth band, so that
touch is felt by both over centre portion
about an inch wide but beyond that portion
only by the brother that is touched. The blood
vessel of each must in like manner communi-
cate, but there is nothing like Interchange OF
blood between the two, and some experiments
have been made which show that chemical
agents introduced in one body have no appre-
ciable effect upon the other. The hearts OF the
two brothers are perfectly distinct, and even
somewhat slike the pulses OF the two at the
time of our inspection were little different In
frequency, and decidedly 80 in character. On
various occasions they have been extremely
different. The respiration of the twins is Who'll
ly independent of each other.


1t may therefore, be said broadly that there
is no intimate union between Chang and Eng
than such as might be effected artificially be-
tween two persons. They arc in every respect
two men, with the misfortune ofthe connecting
band. Their mental operations are entirely
distinct, Of which we can, perhaps, give no
better illustration than by saying, that when
playing chess against an adversary they con-
suit each other about the next move. Their
original resemblance, the necessities of their
position, and the fact that their experience
must have been absolutely identical through
out life, having been combined to bring them
into an extraordinary degree of concord in
thought and action, but in no greater degree
than may thus be accounted for The very
question about their separation OF itselfdeciares
their perfect separateness. 1t tappeares to have
arisen entirely from the conflicting claims of
their respective families, ard to be contempla-
ted only as O sacrifice for the fraternal to bond
the interest of children. Most probably, how
ever, the idea will not be carried into execution.
The surgeons who have as yet been consulted
are decidedly opposed to it, and think the dan
ger too great to be incurred for the sake of the
doubtful benefit The connection between
ti.e.i Iespeesiva blood .oa5els Is tSc.. tkat .ey
must necessarily have any blood disease in
common and it is probable that the last i'll
ness of one, from physical as well as moral
causes, would be the last illness also
of the other. The separation would present
no serious surgical difficulty, and it
might be accom- lished at any time if the acci
dental illness or death of the one brother might
require it. But putting accident aside, and
dealing with constitutional causes, it is most
probable that the brothers, loving in their lives
in death will not be divided.


They take pleasure in rowing, shooting, fish
ing and sports that they pursue in concord
The take no pleasure in sports that would place
them in opposition-as in playing games of
chance or skill against each other, although
perfectly capable of playing such if they cared
for them. We need only add that they appear
to be very courteous and intelligent gentlemen
and are informed that during their long lives
in North Carolina, they have earned the re-
spect and esteem of their neighbors alike in
their business connections and in their private
lives. They were slave holders, enthusiastic
and lost largely by the collapse of
the South. We trust their visit to Europe may
in some degree repair their shattered fortunes,
and may afford them the means of returning
in TRANQUILITY to their former mode of life