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REPORT OF THE AUTOPSY

OF

THE SIAMESE TWINS,

together with

OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION CONCERNINGTHEIR LIFE.

{REPRINTED FROM THE. PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL TIMES.)

PHILADELPHIA:

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.1874.

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

REPORT OF THE AUTOPSY

OF

THE SIAMESE TWINS,

TOGETHER WITH

OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION CONCERNINGTHEIR LIFE. .

(REPRINTED FROM THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL TIMES.)

phil abeTT?rwHJ. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

1874.

Lipfincott’s Press, Philadelphia.

REPORT OF THE AUTOPSYOF

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF CHANGAND ENG.

JN the present article it is not purposed to givean elaborate history of these famous twins, but

only to put on record certain well-ascertained factsof physiological interest in regard to their life, togive all that can be ascertained as to the circum-stances of their death, and to offer a brief historyof the manner in which their bodies were broughtto Philadelphia.

According to a writer in Lippincott's Magazine forMarch, the Siamese Twins were born in 1811, somethirty miles southwest ofBangkok; their father beinga Chinaman, their mother a native of Siam, bred bya Chinese father. The twins were, therefore, three-fourths Chinese, and were known in their nativehome as the “ Chinese Twins. ’ ’ They were the first-born sons of their parents; but their mother has pre-sented her husband with four other pairs of twins

6 THE SIAMESE TWINS.

and four children born at single births, —all of themnormal and healthy. Their mother, during theirinfancy, entirely recognized their separate individu-ality, and also the fact that there existed a commonsensibility in the centre of the band. She stated,what.is undoubtedly true, that at first the ligamentwas so short that the boys were compelled always tobe face to face; even in the bed they could not turnwithout being lifted up and placed in the desiredposition. As they grew, the ligament seemed grad-ually to stretch, until they were able to stand side byside, and even back to back, and to turn themselvesin bed by rolling one over the other. The fatherbeing a fisherman of the laboring class, the boyslived in one of the floating houses of the country,and soon became famous swimmers, spendingmuch of their time in the river. It was the pecu-liarity of their movements in the water which firstattracted the attention of a Scotch merchant, Mr.Robert Hunter, and finally led to their leaving theirnative country in quest of fortune.

For many years Chang and Eng Bunker lived inNorth Carolina, where they were married, and raisedlarge families of children, Chang being the fatherof ten, Eng of nine. Dr. Joseph Hollingsworth, towhom we are indebted for the information givenin this article as to their habits of life and thecircumstances of their death, states that he hasknown them as residents in the neighborhood ofMount Airy, North Carolina, for some twenty years,during which time he has acted as their family phy-

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 7sician. Chang, who is said to have derived his namefrom the Siamese word for “left,” was the left of thepair, and was much smaller and more feeble thanhis brother Eng, whose name signifies “right.”Their habits were very active : during the latterpart of their life they and their families lived intwo houses, about a mile and a half apart, and itwas an inflexible rule that they should pass threedays alternately at each house. So determinedlywas this alternation maintained that sickness anddeath in one family had no effect upon the move-ments of the father, and a dying or dead child wason one occasion left in obedience to it: indeed,Dr. Hollingsworth is very positively of the opinionthat the death of the twins themselves was the resultof this rule, or, at least, was materially hastenedthereby. This will be made apparent hereafter.

The evidences during life that the twins werephysiologically distinct entities were very numerousand apparent. They were different in form, tastes,and disposition ; all their physical functions wereperformed separately and unconnectedly. WhatChang liked to eat, Eng detested. Eng was verygood-natured, Chang cross and irritable. Thesickness of one had no effect upon the other, so thatwhile one would be suffering from fever the pulse ofthe other would beat at its natural rate. The twinsnot rarely suffered from bilious attacks, but onenever suffered at the same time as the other ; a cir-cumstance which seems somewhat singular in viewof the close connection which the post-mortem


has shown to exist between the livers of the pair.Chang drank pretty heavily,—at times gettingdrunk;but Eng never felt any influence from the debauchof his brother,—a seemingly conclusive proof thatthere was no free interchange in their circulations.

The twins often quarrelled; and of course, underthe circumstances, their quarrels were bitter. Theysometimes came to blows, and on one occasion cameunder the jurisdiction of the courts. After one ofthese difficulties Chang and Eng applied to Dr. Hol-lingsworth to separate them, stating that they couldnot live longer together. Eng affirmed that Changwas so bad that he could live no longer with him ;

and Chang stated that he was satisfied to be sepa-rated, only asking that he be given an equal chancewith his brother, and that the band be cut exactlyin the middle. But as Dr. Hollingsworth advisedvery decidedly against this, and declined to inter-fere, cooler counsels prevailed.

In August, 1870, Chang suffered from a paralyticstroke, from which he never fully recovered; andduring the last year of his life he several times saidto Dr. Hollingsworth, “We can’t live long.”

On the Thursday evening preceding their death,the time having arrived for their departure fromthe house at which they were staying, the twinsrode a mile and a half in an open wagon. Theweather was very cold,—the night being the severestof the winter. Chang had been complaining forsome days of cough, with distress and actual painin the chest. He was so unwell that his wife thought

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 9he would be unable to bear the trip; but he finallywent. On Friday morning Chang reported that hefelt better, but that in the night he had had suchsevere pain in the chest, and so much distress,that he thought he should have died.

The twins slept in a room by themselves or withonly a very young child present; and some time inthe course of Friday night they got up and sat bythe fire. As they were accustomed to do this fre-quently, nothing was thought of it by those of thefamily who saw them, even though they heard Engsaying he was sleepy and wanted to retire, andChang insisting on remaining up, stating that hisbreathing was so bad that it would kill him to liedown. Finally, however, the couple went to bedagain, and after an hour or so the family heardsome one call. No one went to the twins for somelittle time, and, when they did go, Chang was dead,and Eng was awake. Fie told his wife that he wasvery “bad off,” and could not live. He com-plained of agonizing pain and distress, especially inhis limbs. His surface was covered with a cold sweat.At his request his wife and children rubbed his legsand arms, and pulled and stretched them forcibly.This was steadily continued until he went into astupor, which took place about an hour after thefamily were alarmed. The stupor continued up todeath: according to the statements of the family,there were no convulsions.

Dr. Hollingsworth did not reach the house untilafter the death of both of the twins. He found the

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

wives, and especially the children, averse to anypost-mortem being made, but, after much persua-sion, obtained permission to put the bodies in a posi-tion to be preserved until he could obtain someone from Philadelphia to perform the autopsy. Heplaced the bodies, after they had been thoroughlycooled, in a coffin, which was put in a wooden box,which was, in its turn, enclosed in tin; the wholebeing buried in a dry cellar in such a way as tobe imbedded in charcoal.

As bearing upon the question, What was thecause of the death of Chang? it is important tostate that Dr. Hollingsworth had repeatedly toldChang and Eng that, in his opinion, the death ofone did not necessarily compromise the life of theother ; that he could separate them, by cutting closeto the body of the dead one, without killing theliving one. It would appear possible, in view ofthis, that the death of Eng was not simply theresult of fright.

O HORTLY after the death of the Siamese Twins,Dr. William Pancoast requested the Mayor of

Philadelphia to telegraph to the Mayor of Greens-boro’, North Carolina, in regard to the possibilityof a post-mortem examination being obtained. Tothis the Mayor of Greensboro’ substantially repliedthat he had neitherknowledge nor power in the mat-ter. When Dr. Hollingsworth, en route North, ar-rived at Greensboro’, the telegram of Dr. Pancoastwas handed to him. On the evening of his arrival

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 11

at Philadelphia (Friday) he saw Dr. Pancoast andProf. Gross, and a letter was written to the wivesof the twins, proposing that Dr. Pancoast shouldcome on to embalm and examine the bodies.

On Sunday Dr. Hollingsworth saw Prof. JohnNeill,and, on consultation, it was concluded that thematter was of public importance, and should not beconfined to any single private individual. As thepromptest method, it was deemed best to call ameeting of such physicians as were interested in thematter and could be hastily got together.

The meeting took place on the evening of Mon-day, January 26, 1874, at the house of Dr. Neill;but, although a number had been asked, only Prof.Leidy and Dr. Ruschenberger, besides Drs. Hol-lingsworth and Neill, were present at the conference.As the result of their deliberations, it was deter-mined that two gentlemen should be at once dis-patched to the homes of the twins, in order toexamine and embalm the bodies as speedily as pos-sible; and it was agreed that Drs. William H. Pan-coast and Harrison Allen should be requested to go.

It will be seen at once that the College of Phy-sicians was in no wise responsible for the acts ofthe Commission, although its name was freely usedby the prominent Fellows engaged in the transaction.Indeed, these gentlemen, recognizing this, wereprepared to meet the expenses of the trip had theCollege failed to endorse their action.

Owing tovarious obstacles and embarrassments, theCommission did not leave the city until Thursday

THE SIAMESE TWINS.12

night, January 29. At the request of Dr. Pancoast,Dr. Andrews went with the party as a companionand aid.

The Commission arrived at Mt. Airy on the even-ing of Saturday, January 31, and proceeded to theresidence of Eng the following morning, in com-pany with a photographer and Dr. William Hol-lingsworth, who is the family physician in the ab-sence of Dr. Joseph Hollingsworth. The widowsof the twins received the Commission hospitably,and a conference was at once entered into, at whichthe “ Mistresses” Bunker, the Commission, Dr.Hollingsworth, and the widows’ legal adviser werepresent. It was then agreed that, under considera-tion of embalming the bodies of the twins, permis-sion would be granted to exhume and examine thestructures distinguishing them, provided that noincisions shouldbe made which would impair the ex-ternal surface of the band. Subsequently it was agreedthat limited incisions would be allowed on the pos-terior surface of the band. An agreement in writ-ing was then drawn up, expressing the above restric-tions, but extending authority to the Commissionto remove the bodies to Philadelphia, provided thatthey be kept there in a fire-proof building, and heldsubject to the commands of the families when in-formed of the completion of the embalming pro-cess.

The object of the visit of the Commission, havingbeen noised about the country, had attracted acrowd of curious people, who were willing enough

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

to give the necessary aid in exhuming the bodies.The circumstances attending this were briefly asfollows. The bodies were buried in the cellar ofEng’s house, in a shallow grave, which had beencovered with a tumulus of powdered charcoal.This being removed revealed several planks cover-ing an outer wooden box, which, in turn, encloseda tin encasement to the coffin. After unsolderingthe tin box, the coffin was carried to the secondfloor of the house, to a large chamber. The lidwas unscrewed, and the object of the searchof the Commission was exposed to view. It wascertainly an anxious moment. Fifteen days hadelapsed since death, and no preservative had beenemployed. It was an agreeable surprise, there-fore, that no odor of decomposition escaped intothe room, and that the features gave no evidenceof impending decay. On the contrary, the face ofEng was that of one sleeping; and the only un-favorable appearance in Chang was a slight livid-ity of the lips and a purplish discoloration aboutthe ears. The widows at this point entered theroom, and, amid the respectful silence of allpresent, took a last look at the remains.

The room was then cleared of all not connectedwith the work of the Commission ; the bodies weredisrobed, and preparations at once begun to securephotographs. The bodies were held in an erectposition, and negatives of the entire figures, andviews of the band at short foci, were secured. Theday being cloudy, much time was necessarily ex-


pended in obtaining these pictures,—time sufficientfor a number of observations upon the externalappearance of the bodies to be recorded. Thenotes are given just as they were taken at the time:

Examination made Sunday, February i, 1874, fifteendays and eight hours after the death of Chang.

The bodies were found in the coffin in a good state ofpreservation ; there was a slight cadaveric odor aboutChang, with marked passive congestion of the back ofthe arms and neck on both sides, and in a less degreeof the posterior aspect of the forearms, buttocks, thighs,and legs; there was none on the feet, where, however,there was marked fulness of the superficial veins ; thiswas better marked on the left side. There was a green-ish discoloration on the anterior abdominal wall.

Face. —Lips moist and discolored; peculiar reddishcongestion sparsely distributed over malar prominenceand beneath ear. The thoracic discoloration was muchdeeper on the side next to Eng.

The left nipple was visible in front well towards themiddle line, the right one just showing. The fingersof the right hand—the paralyzed side —were forciblyflexed, although rigor mortis was absent.

In Eng there was passive congestion of back, mostmarked on buttocks and infra-spinous spaces—noneon the front of the body ; slight greenish discolorationof anterior abdominal wall.

In both subjects the hair of the head was gray.On the pubis of each subject the hair of the left side

was gray, that of the right side, black.The process of embalming was now begun. In-

cisions were made to the outer side of the medianline of the abdomen in each individual, extending

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

from the inferior margin of the thorax to a pointmidway between the symphysis pubis and the an-

terior superior spinous process of the ilium. Theaorta was reached after the usual method, but wasfound to be in an atheromatous condition, compel-ling the selection of the left primitive iliac for theinsertion of the pipe. A solution of chloride ofzinc was then injected.

After the embalmment had been completed, theincision was continued upward and inward towardsthe band. Examination of the band through thisincision convinced the Commission of the complexnature of the band, and suggested the suspension ofa complete study of the parts until removal of thebodies to Philadelphia. The fact that the photo-graph had been far from satisfactory strengthenedthe Commission in its decision to stop the investiga-tion at this stage. The incisions were, therefore,sewn up, the clothing readjusted, and the bodiesplaced in the coffin and conveyed to Mt. Airy.Here the tin box which was used for the temporaryburial was again brought into use, and the lid care-

fully resoldered. Without delay the Commissionstarted on its return, expressing the bodies at Salem.

The Commission arrived in Philadelphia, Feb-ruary 5, having been absent one week.

Upon the arrival of the bodies at the College ofPhysicians, they were placed in the care of the com-mittee upon the Mutter Museum and of the HallCommittee, and were closely locked and guardeduntil a special meeting of the College was called,


upon Monday evening, February 8, when, afterconsiderable discussion, it was agreed that the Col-lege should accept the action of its Fellows andpay the expenses of the trip. Further, a vote ofthanks was given to the gentlemen who went toNorth Carolina, and to Dr. Hollingsworth, and theMutter Committee was authorized to appropriatethree hundred and fifty dollars for the preparationof casts and photographs, which should remain theproperty of the Museum. Finally, the College ap-pointed the Mutter Museum Committee and theoriginal Commission (Drs. Pancoast and Allen) as ajoint committee for carrying out the examination oftheSiamese Twins; it being understood that a reportand a demonstration of the specimens were to bemade to a subsequent meeting of the College ; also,that the dissections and the report were to be thework of the original Commission.

On Tuesday, the ioth instant, they were exposedfor study : they were at that time found in a satis-factory condition, except the right lower extremityof Chang, which required immediatecare to preventfurther destructive changes taking place.

STATEMENT.Statement ofEng's widow

, made to the Commissionat Mount Airy. —The paralytic stroke from whichChang had suffered occurred about three years ago,when he was at sea, seven days out from Liverpool.He had been intemperate for some time previously,

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 17and had been drinking hard on board the vessel,being frequently intoxicated. He had never hadmania a potu. Even when he was drunk, Eng wasnot affected. Two of his children had died; onefrom phthisis, the other apparently from apoplexy.Eng had lost five children: one each from phthisis,diphtheria, and dysentery, one from the effects ofa burn, and one still-born.

Chang died Saturday, January 17. He had hada cough since the preceding Monday night. Itwas dry, with scanty, frothy sputum and no pain.Left lung probably involved; slight dulness on cor-responding side. On Thursday, January 15, hisskin was acting freely, and for that reason Dr. Hol-lingsworth ordered him not to venture out; but, inspite of that prohibition, he went as usual to Eng’s.At the time of his arrival he had little cough andno expectoration, but loud bronchial rales wereplainly heard by those around him.

When Eng saw his wife after learning that Changwas dead, he said, “I am dying,” but did notspeak of his brother’s death. He soon afterwardsexpressed a desire to defecate, and this continuedfor half an hour. He rubbed his upper extremi-ties, raised them restlessly, and complained of achoking sensation. The only notice he took ofChang was to move him nearer. His last wordswere, “May the Lord have mercy on my soul!”


PHONOGRAPHIC REPORT.THE SIAMESE TWINS AT THE COLLEGE

OF PHYSICIANS.A SPECIAL meeting of the College of Physicians

of Philadelphia was held at the hall, Wednes-day evening, February 18, for the purpose of hear-ing the report of the Commission on the SiameseTwins, —Dr. W. S. W. Ruschenberger, U.S.N., inthe chair. On motion of Dr. Gross, it was, aftersome discussion, resolved that the PhiladelphiaMedical Times be allowed to report the proceed-ings of the meeting, on condition that three hundredcopies of the journal should be given to the collegefor the use of the members.

The bodies of the Siamese Twins being upon thetable, the meeting proceeded to hear the report ofDrs. Pancoast and Allen. On behalf of the Com-mission, Dr. Pancoast stated that, the dissection nothaving been entirely completed, their report wouldbe a verbal one, to be followed at some later dateby a memoir upon the subject. He further remarkedthat it had been agreed that he should considerchiefly the surgical aspect of the matter in hand,whilst to his colleague had been assigned the demon-stration of the anatomical peculiarities.Dr. William H. Pancoast:

Mr. Chairman,

and Fellows of the College :—

Having been requested, as a member of the Com-

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

mission, to open the discussion this evening, I willsay briefly, in reference to this monster of a sym-metrical duplex development, joined, as many ofthe Fellows now know, at the ensiform appendixand also here at the omphalos or navel, that at theinvestigation which we made on the first occasionat Mount Airy I made the opening incision of thebody on the line for the ligation of the primitiveiliac, on the right side; Dr. Allen made the incisionon the left. The object was to reach the greatvessels,—the aorta and two primitive iliacs,—and toforce the injecting material which we used for em-balming (chloride of zinc) up the aorta and downthe iliacs until it ran from the incisions made in thefingers and toes. It flowed freely through the blood-vessels in Eng, owing to the ossified condition ofhis arteries; the injection in Chang was, however,not so successful, owing to decomposition in thetissues and blood-vessels. It was necessary to re-peat the injecting process several times in order topreserve the body. The arteries of Chang werefound to be very much decomposed,—quite rotten,in fact.

In Dunglison’s Medical Dictionary we find thescientific name given for the Siamese Twins, in theclassification of teratology, to be Xiphopages; andby referring to the admirable article on Diplo-teratology of Dr. G. J. Fisher (published in theTransactions of the Medical Society of the State ofNew York for the year 1866), it will be found thatthe twins belong in the class of Anacatadidyma.


In his classification of double monsters he makesthree orders : Order first, — Teratacatadidyma ;

derived from ripas, Tiparoq, a “monster,” xard,“down,” and didupos, a “twin.” Definition,—du-plicity, with more or less separation, of the cerebro-spinal axis, from above downwards. Order second,—Terata-anadidytna, derived from ava, “up” or“above,” and 8{8opo<;, a “twin.” Definition,—duplicity, with more or less separation, of thecerebro-spinal axis, from below upwards, or fromthe caudal towards the cephalic extremity of theneural axis. Order third,—Terata-anacatadidyma,derived from ava, “above,” xard, “down,” andSidupoq, a “twin.” Definition, —duplicity, withmore or less separation, of both the cephalic andthe caudal extremity of the cerebro-spinal axis,existing contemporaneously. In this order, themonster now before us might be called an Omphalo-xiphodidymus.

Thus we have the scientific nomenclature of thismonster. Of course, the consideration of greatestinterest to the profession, and one of the main rea-sons why the Commission made such exertions toobtain this post-mortem, was that the Americanprofession might not be charged with having neg-lected an effort to obtain an autopsy, which wouldsolve the mystery of their union. The feature ofgreatest interest is connected with this band, —aboutfour inches long and eight inches in circumference.In addition to this, there are other points of im-portance in teratology, in regard to the fulfilment


of the law of homologous union, in relation to thejuncture of the recti muscles and the fasciae of theobliquus and transversalis at their point of meetingin the centre of the band. In regard to the posi-tion of the hearts, we think their apices presenttowards each other. [This has since been found tobe the case.] The livers we have found to approxi-mate to each other and to push through the respectiveperitoneal openings into the band. We extendedour incisions to the margin of the band in front.By placing my hand in the peritoneal cavity ofEng and my colleague placing his hand in the peri-toneal cavity of Chang, we pushed before us pro-cesses of peritoneum, which ran on to the medianline of the band ; and we could feel our fingers inthe lower portion of the band, behind the medianline, with a distinct layer of peritoneum betweenthem, demonstrating at once the prolongation ofthe peritoneum into the band, and the completeseparation of one peritoneal cavity from the otherat this median line. Above that we felt some tracesof vascular connection, apparently running fromone liver to the other ; but this we will examine intowhen we have a better opportunity of carefully dis-secting and examining what vascular structures mayexist. We also noticed that in turning off the flapsconsisting of the anterior walls of the abdomen,the hypogastric arteries, as illustrated by the dia-gram on the blackboard, ran upwards in each bodyinto the band. We lost them in this way, aswe think, towards the common umbilicus in the


anterior inferior surface of the middle of theband.

It is probable that the two hypogastric arteries oneach side passed through this umbilicus. Whetheror not there were two umbilical veins, we have notyet been able to decide, nor to answer the questionwhether the umbilical cord was double or single andcomposed of the four hypogastric arteries and twoumbilical veins, or whether the placenta was single,double, or twin.

We also recognized that the ensiform appendix,as shown in the diagram of each side, was prolongedand united in the middle line. On our later exami-nation, we find that there is complete continuity ofstructure of the cartilages, but no true joint at themiddle line, although it is possible there may besome small synovial sacs farther up. The motion ismainly due, as I here demonstrate to you by mov-ing these bodies one upon the other, to the elasticityof the connected ensiform appendices and interven-ing fibro-cartilages.

In regard to the vascular connection of the band,we have not yet been able to make so thorough andcareful an examination as we wished; but still, inthrowing colored plaster into the portal circulationof Chang it has been found to flow through the vesselsof the upper part of the band into the portal vesselsof Eng. So that the surgical anatomy of the bandconsists in the skin and fascia which cover it, thetwo separate peritoneal pouches which meet in themiddle, the large peritoneal pouch, the vascular

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 23connection, to whatever extent that may exist be-tween the two portal circulations, and the remainsof the hypogastric arteries in the lower portion ofthe band. Thus the main difficulty in any opera-tion for section of the band would seem to be inregard to the peritoneal processes and the portalcirculation. The anastomosis which may exist be-tween the internal mammary arteries and the inter-costals in the integument in the upper portion ofthe band, of course would present no difficulty.

I will not venture upon any further remarks as tothe surgery of the case, while there are so many dis-tinguished gentlemen present more competent thanmyself to give an opinion. At the same time, opera-tions on the peritoneum may not be considered sohazardous in this day, when ovariotomy, gastrotomy,and even Caesarian section, are so often performed.The peritoneum-pouches themselves would not pre-sent so great a difficulty as might be anticipated,under pressure and acupuncture, by which thesensitiveness of the structure might be so altered asto permit of a section. I was informed at MountAiry that in Paris a surgeon had made the experi-ment of applying pressure upon the band, and itwas reported the twins had fainted in consequence.I could not ascertain, however, whether this wasfrom fright, design, or actual pain.

As Dr. Hollingsworth is present, it may be properfor me to mention a fact which that gentleman cancorroborate, that Eng was the stronger physicallyand Chang was the stronger mentally. The same


difference was observable in their characters. Changwas more irritable than Eng, especially since anattack of paralysis with which he had been afflicted,—this being in the side next to Eng. The latterhad not only to bear with the irritability of hisassociate, but also to support one-half his weight.Among other peculiarities, Chang would sometimesbreak useful articles or throw them in the fire.

In conclusion, let me say that when I turned upthe skin and superficial fascia of the H incisionon the posterior part of the band, I was struck withthe development and the strength of the abdominalaponeuroses. The fibres arched, interlaced, anddeveloped into a strong fibrous band about a quar-ter of an inch wide, running around the medianline, although there was no actual joint in the car-tilage.Prof. Harrison Allen :

Mr. Chairman: I will probably best dischargethe duty devolving upon me by at once proceedingto a somewhat more minute anatomical descriptionthan Dr. Pancoast has given, this being in accord-ance with the understanding between us in referenceto the evening’s exercises.

Perhaps it would be best to point to that simplediagram upon the blackboard before consideringthe subject more fully in detail. As Dr. Pancoasthas informed the Fellows, there is a union of thetwins at the two ensiform cartilages, which are veryfirmly joined in the centre, Eng’s process being themore robust of the two. You will observe that

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 25there is a point ofconjunction between the two pro-cesses which is not quite in the median line of theband. In the centre of the band is seen an ellip-tical space which suggests to the observer the pres-ence of a synovial cavity. It is probable that the

DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE BAND.

A, upper orhepatic pouch of Chang.E, E (dotted line), union of the ensiform cartilages.D, connecting liver band, or the “ tract of portal continuity.”B, the peritoneal pouch of Eng.C, the lower peritoneal pouch of Chang.E, E, lower border of the band.

ensiform junction is of the character of a synchon-drosis, with a median bursa-like sac; neither ensi-form cartilage is ossified.

Below this point, in the diagram, you see a num-


ber of differently-lined tracks. The lower one (c),immediately above the umbilicus, is only sepa-rated from the skin by a very delicate layer oftissue (so that, with the finger introduced into thepouch and moved, there is a decided indication ofmotion in the skin) on the under surface (e, e)of the band.

This pouch passes across the band from the ab-domen of Chang, and is lost in the duplicature ofthe suspensory ligament of the liver of Eng. Thefinger passed upward to the band from the abdomenof Eng crosses the band above the pouch just men-tioned, and is lost between the layers of the sus-pensory ligament of the liver of Chang. When thesignificance of the round ligament at the free borderof the suspensory ligament is remembered, the rela-tions of these pouches directly suggest that theyhave had essential bearings to the umbilical veinof the funis, and may be provisionally termed theumbilicalpouches.

Above Eng’s pouch (b), and between it and theunder surface of the ensiform conjunction, is asecond pouch (a) prolonged from Chang’s abdomen,which fairly reaches the peritoneal cavity of Eng,but is not continuous with it. Extending up intothis pouch from Chang’s abdomen is a process whichsuggested to the Commission the possibility of thetransit of hepatic vessels.- This view was renderedmore probable from the fact that a similar processpassed up into the band from the liver of Eng.Accordingly, the plaster injection, colored by ultra-

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 27marine, was thrown into a tributary of the portalvein of Chang, when it was observed that the fluidpassed freely into the liver of Eng, as well as intosome of the mesenteric veins proper. It is my ownhypothesis that this bond of union (d) was the truehepatic tract; but in its present state, in the absenceof evidence of any parenchymatous admixture aboutthe vessels thus crossing the band, we prefer todenominate the transit as the tract of portal con-tinuity.

In the foetal condition it is very likely that thislargespace (a), the upper pouch, now continuous withthe abdomen of Chang only, was entirely occupiedby true liver-tissue, which, as maturity was attained,became smaller, and left an empty space. Hence Ipropose to call this upper pouch the hepaticpouch.The contraction chanced to be greater on Chang’sside, in harmony, it may be, with other evidencesof a weaker and less developed type, which is soapparent in many of the tissues of Chang. Now,with reference to the demonstration. As Dr. Pan-coast has already informed you, the incisions in theabdomen were made in rather an exceptional man-ner. By reference to the parts it will be seen thatthe incision in either individualwas located in sucha way as to avoid the median line, since it was sup-posed from the peculiar position of the umbilicusthat the remains of the hypogastric arteries wouldbe found extending from the fundus of the bladderupward and inward along the entire length of theanterior wall of the abdomen. Besides, this incision


would enable us, by continuing from below upward,to fairly open the abdomen and examine the cord,without violating the conditions by which the Com-mission was bound. The flap comprises the greaterpart of the abdominal wall, and can be best observed,from the position of the bodies on the table, in thatof Eng.

You notice that the tissues are well supplied withfat; and this condition is very plainly in contrastwith that of Chang. Eng’s side of the band is wellnourished ; Chang’s end of the band presents anentirely different aspect. Chang was an invalid,and the weaker half of this organism, with lessstrength in the abdominal walls, and in every wayless tissue, than was possessed by Eng. You canmark that distinction very plainly in the two halvesof the band, proving, if we had no other means ofproof, that there could not be any very intimatecommunication of the vessels between the two.

The first point worthy of notice is that of an iso-lated mass ofadipose tissue, evidently sub-peritoneal,which is in the position of the usual umbilicus,namely, in the median line of the abdomen, abouthalf-way up the anterior wall. This is strictlysymmetrical, a similar point of about the same sizebeing found in Chang.

Another fact equally well pronounced is that inChang the bladder was found very much con-tracted and contained no urine; it was deep downin the cavity of the true pelvis. That of Eng, how-ever, was distended with urine : hence there was a

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 29contrast in the appearance of the umbilical fold inthe two individuals, in consequence of the greatdifference in the actual size of the bladders.

My finger isnow in the umbilicalpouch ofChang (c).The motion is noticeable in the under surface of theband. On the side of Eng no such motion will beobserved. I can very clearly see my finger passing

DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE LIVERS; PORTRAYING THERELATIONS OF THE VESSELS, ETC.

The arrows show the directions in which the injection passed fromChang to Eng.

between the two folds of the suspensory ligament.At this point it would perhaps be well to exhibit thedrawings which have been made of the views whichwe have been able to obtain from this very limitedincision. On looking up towards the band with thegreatest possible stretch of tissue, we see the ar-rangement of the remains of the hypogastric arteries

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

converging towards the bond ofunion. In this lowerdiagram we show you the livers joined by what issupposed to be the tract ofportal continuity . Youwill observe the limits are somewhat symmetrical.Here is the liver of Chang, with a foreshortenedright lobe.

The remainder of the right lobe is deep within theabdomen, and of course it has not been seen. Hereis the fundus of the gall-bladder, and there thesuspensory ligament, carrying the remains of theumbilical vein. When the finger is passed fromChang into Eng, it is received between the folds ofthe suspensory ligament of Eng. In Eng, the partsare essentially the same, although you see more evi-dence of adipose tissue. Here is a little ligamentaiding in the support of the liver, to whose con-vexity it is attached ; it is not seen in Changat all. You might term it an accessory suspensoryligament. When the finger is introduced behindthe pouch, it is observed to terminate blindly,showing, we think, that it is adventitious, due tothe presence of that suspensory ligament.

We find some vessels of the portal system, evenas far down as the mesentery, well filled with theblue coloring-matter. We of course desired, asfar as possible, to examine all the tissues here bythese incisions: hence it was that when the bodieswere in this position the skin was taken off fromthe wall in order to get a view of the linea alba.

[The bodies were here inspected by the audience,and afterwards turned so as to expose the posterior

THE SIAMESE TWINS.

part of the band. Further remarks apply to thisposterior aspect.]

Dr. Pancoast : While the bodies are beingturned, I will take the opportunity of replying toone or two questions which have been asked me.First, in regard to the common sensibility of theseindividuals. According to the statements we re-ceived at Mount Airy, there was a line of commonsensibility corresponding to the median line ofthe band. Dr. Hollingsworth says that if a pinwere stuck into the band at the median line, both ofthe twins would feel it distinctly; but that, even ata slight distance to either side, the point of the pinproduced an effect only on the twin of that side.

Another question has been asked me, as to whethereither of them was ever put separately under theinfluence of an anaesthetic. I answer it by sayingthat so far as we know it never was attempted, butthat when, upon the final occasion, Chang wasanaesthetized by death, Eng was for a time unaffected.The story as told us at Mount Airy was that Engwaked up and asked his son, “How is your UncleChang?” The boy said, “Uncle Chang is cold—Uncle Chang is dead.” Then great excitementtook place. Eng commenced crying out immedi-ately, — saying to his wife, whom they called in,“My last hour is come,” and finally sank away.He was in perfect health when they went to bed.

They had been sitting up in a large double chair,made for their accommodation. Eng was smoking


his pipe, until he became sleepy, and finally saidto Chang, “We must retire.” Chang said that hecould not lie down comfortably. I understand thatwhen they went from Chang’s house to Eng’s house[see editorial], where they died, it was against thedirection of Dr. Hollingsworth; but with their usualstubbornness they persisted in riding the distancein an open buggy. To return to the narrative ofthe night of their death, after Chang had refused tolie down, they walked about the house for sometime, and even went out to the porch, and washedtheir hands and drank some water. It was aboutone o’clock when they went to bed. Then Changdied, some time between that and morning; hisdeath not producing any immediate impression onEng. It was only when the latter woke up and in-quired about the condition of his brother, that hewas at all affected.

As to the question, “ What caused Eng’s death?”I am not able to tell. The post-mortem which hasbeen made does not show the conditionof his lungs.Probably the valves of his heart were in a disorgan-ized condition, and probably also the shock uponthat weakened organ caused death.

Dr. Allen : In my opinion, Chang died of acerebral clot. From inquiry at his home, I was ledto believe that the lung-symptoms were not due topneumonia; indeed, were not severe enough tohave been so caused. The suddenness of the death,the general atheroma of the arteries, and the factthat there had been previously an attack of cerebral

THE SIAMESE TWIN'S. 33

paralysis, all indicated that the death was of cere-bral origin. Eng probably died of fright, as thedistended bladder seemed to point to a profoundemotional disturbance of the nervous system, themind remaining clear until stupor came on,—a

stupor which was probably syncopal. One thingto be settled in the making of our examination wasto get the bodies in the best possible position, sothat we could judge of the true nature of theband.

You will observe the great contrast between theanterior appearance of the band and its posterioraspect. When we suspended them face to face we

conceived we had them in the proper position forstudy. On the posterior side there was a foldunderneath the skin extending from the ensiformcartilage of Chang, passing over, crossing the me-dian line, and inserted into the ensiform cartilage ofthe opposite twin, Eng. It was one of the objectsof the examination to determine what was the na-ture of this fold. I judge it to be the lineaalba;but I leave the Fellows to decide that for themselves.I will also add that, because we had not the privi-lege of cutting the anterior portion of the band, wewere obliged to cut down from the point of whichI have spoken to get to the structure, and demon-strate these culs-de-sac from behind.

Here (referring to the casts), from this point theincision is horizontal about midway, and joinedlaterally by two oblique lines which were directedone upward and the other downward and outward,

THE SIAMESE TWINS.34making a modified letter-H incision. Thus we gotall the space we needed. When I raise the skin, wesee the scar of the umbilicus in the superficial fascia ;

and on lifting the other flap we get a better generaldemonstration.

And now we come upon the point of interest,namely, the position of the band and its true nature.We have a diagram here. You notice on Chang’sside that there is an arrangement of interlacingaponeurotic fibres, marked here; and these fibres,starting in Chang, pass across the median line andare inserted into the ensiform cartilage of Eng.Turning the lower flap downward, the upper flapupward, and the two lateral tongues outward, thesuperficial fascia is exposed. This is abundantlysupplied with adipose tissue on either side, but isfree from fat where it covered the band. Both thelower flap and the fascia are lost in the scar markingthe position of the umbilicus. The same dissectionexhibits the position of the lower pouch of Chang.Turning down the external oblique, the two recti,and the internal oblique muscles, the transversaliswas exposed, the latter forming a very well-definedlayer in Eng, with an interval between the ensiformcartilage and the inferior margin of the thorax.These were much less marked in Chang.

Turning forward this layer of fibres in Eng fromwithout inward, the diaphragm is brought into view.Muscular fibres are conspicuous in this position.The peritoneum on either side is now fairly exposed.Incisions may now be made with a view of dem-

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 35onstrating the pouches of the band. The upperpouch of Chang is, you will observe, freely openedon its posterior aspect, and the vessels in the tractof portal continuity are seen to be well distendedwith the injecting fluid. A small artery is seencrossing beneath this tract of veins, and is probablya branch of the hepatic; but, whatever may be itsorigin, it evidently could have little effect in influ-encing the nutrition of parts beyond the band, andis probably retained within the band itself. Thelower pouch of Chang reveals nothing which wasnot demonstrable from in front, and the same maybe said of the single pouch of Eng ; thus confirm-ing our opinions of the construction of the bandbefore the pouches had been opened from behind.

Dr. Abraham Jacobi, of New York, being calledupon, said: I am very much obliged to the gentle-man who has mentioned my name. I do not believe,Mr. Chairman, that I have anything to add to thestock of knowledge in regard to the subject beforeus. If I were to answer the question as to how thismonstrosity originated, especially whether they be-came connected after having been separate organ-isms, I should say that that idea has been given upby those whose opinions are entitled to weight. Itis true that years ago such specimens were spokenof by D’Alton of Halle; and a number of othershave alluded to the idea that two such individualsmight in embryonic life become united simply byadhesion, the result of their being located togetherin the embryo. In truth, it appears to me that at

THE SIAMESE TWINS.36that period such a thing might be possible; but ofcourse the union would be a superficial one, not in-volving the deep organs.

We know that the first epidermis is formed aboutthe end of the fifth week of embryonic life, and thatafter a time it is thrown off, so that the embryo ofabout seven or eight weeks is more loosely coveredwith the real epidermis than in the earlier period.The epidermis is thrown off a number of timesuntil about the fourth month of utero-gestation,when it is finally perfected and remains intact. Nowit is suggested that at those times when the epider-mis is thrown off the connection takes place betweenthe two individuals, —just as the connection takesplace between the prepuce and glans, which we sooften find adherent in the foetus and in a numberof new-born children.

There are evidences, which we cannot forget,that such connections have taken place before thefinal epidermis is formed, and about the time oneof the earlier coverings is being thrown off, at aperiod when the internal organs, frequently impli-cated in such monstrosities, are already formed.There are few double monstrosities so well devel-.oped as this one. I think the records of about fourhundred monsters have now been collected in thebooks and journals; but very few are of such a com-plete nature as this. Every one has heard of theHungarian Twins, who lived to the age of twenty-one years, in the last century. Another pair offemale twins, that travelled in Germany about two


years ago, were described at the time, in the BerlinerWochenschrift. They were of a similar nature.There are two cases on record in which a divisionhas been successfully attempted, but in those casesthe connections were not so well developed as in theSiamese Twins. The connection was in the sameneighborhood, but was only superficial,—of skin andsubcutaneous tissue. One of the cases is recordedby Dr. Boehm ( Virchow's Archiv). Fortunately, orunfortunately, I do not know which, they were hisown children. They were of the female sex. Heseparated them immediately after birth. One livedthree and a half days; and when the case was de-scribed in 1866, the other was five years old. Inthat instance the connection—three and a halfincheslong—extended from the ensiform process to theumbilicus. The other case is described as early as1689, by the old German author Konig.

As far as the origin of twin monsters is concerned,I am certainly of those who are not of the opinionthat two individuals could get into such an intimateconnection by growing together. Certainly theconnection is an original one. I believe that thegeneral opinion is now that one Graafian vesicle mayhave two ova, or one ovum have two nuclei; andthese finally may, like the two vitelli of an egg, beclosed together, surrounded by the same material,forming a single complete ovum; and thus it maybe that the two are included in the same ovum.I think that this will explain also why the sex isalways the same,—why they are always both male


or both female. They are male in twenty or twenty-five per cent, of the cases.

Dr. H. C. Wood here asked Dr. Jacobi a questionin regard to the Biddenden Sisters [an account ofwhom will be found in another column of thisjournal], as to whether they had been reported inthe works on monstrosities.

Dr. Jacobi. I do not know anything about that.Dr. Pancoast stated that an account of those

sisters was contained in a semi-popular book en-titled “Lexicon Tetraglotton,” published by SamuelThomson, London, 1660.*

None of the Fellows desiring to say anythingfurther upon the subject, on motion, the Collegeadjourned.

/~\N Thursday, February 19, the Commission con-tinued the autopsy upon the Siamese Twins,

and made some important discoveries. They foundthat the two livers, which were supposed to be joinedonly by blood-vessels, were one body; the paren-chymatous tissue being seemingly continuous be-tween them.

The so-called tract ofportal continuity is appar-ently liver-tissue, but the point has not yet beenproven by microscopic examination. It will be

* The Editor of the Times is indebted to Dr. Pancoast for an opportu-nity of inspecting the work. The account of the Biddenden Maids is in asingle sheet, and is evidently not a part of the original book, but has beenpasted in it. In appearance it equals the body of the work in age, asshown by the color and condition of the paper; but of course it is impos-sible to decide with any accuracy when it was put in the book.

THE SIAMESE TWINS. 39remembered that Chang was said to be possessed ofone more pouch than Eng. When the liver wasremoved, however, an upper hepatic pouch wasfound also proceeding from Eng, so that the bandcontained four pouches of peritoneum, besides liver-tissue. These disclosures show that any attemptduring life to separate the twins would in all proba-bility have proved fatal.

diagram from a cast showing the position of the ligament, andOF THE PRIMARY ANTERIOR INCISIONS.

During life the twins never assumed the face-to-face position in whichthey are here represented, and which is without doubt that of their foetallife.

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the siamese twins, · the siamese twins. 7 sician. chang,whois saidtohavederivedhisname from...

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