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 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 
 
 Siamese 'Twin Brothers , 
 
 ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 “ UNITED WE STAND. 
 
 Gopij-right secured. 
 
 PRICE m CENTS. 
 
 FOR SALE ONLY AT THE EXHIBITION ROOM. 
 
 Second Edition — 2®Q0 Each. 
 
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-Published as the Pci directs. Pan _- v Zd. dd-36 7 . 
 
AN 
 
 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SIAMESE TWIN BROTHERS, 
 
 FROM 
 
 ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 “united we stand.” 
 
 FOR SALE ONLY AT THE EXHIBITION ROOM. 
 
 PRICE 121 CENTS. 
 
 SECOND EDITION— 2000 EACH. 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 
 PRINTED BY ELLIOTT AND PALMER, 20 WILLIAM-STREET. 
 
 1831. 
 
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1831, by James W. 
 Hale, in the Clerk’s office of the Southern District of New-York. 
 
Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, Nov. 24th, 1829. 
 
 CHANG <Sf ENG. — Two youths horn in the kingdom of 
 Siam, whose bodies are, by a wonderful caprice of nature, united to- 
 gether as one, arrived in London on Tlmrsday, Nov. 19 tli, and on 
 Tuesday 24 th, were submitted to the examination of the most eminent 
 professors of Surgery and Medicine of the Metropolis, as well as 
 some other gentlemen of scientific and literary pursuits in order 
 that through their report, {if favourable') the public may be assu- 
 red that the projected exhibition of these remarkable and interesting 
 youths is in no respect deceptive; and further that there is nothing 
 whatever, offensive to delicacy in the said exhibition. 
 
 These Youths have passed their eighteenth year, are in pos- 
 session c f full health and extraordinary bodily strength ; display 
 all the faculties of the mind in their fullest extent ; and seem in fact 
 in every respect to enjoy a state of perfect happiness and content- 
 ment. 
 
 *** The Youths having been thus introduced to the British Public, -were 
 visited on that day (among many others.) by the following distingui-died per- 
 sons, who testified their entire approbation of the exhibition, and obligingly 
 favoured the Proprietors with the sanction of their names. 
 
 (Signed by) 
 
 HONs. LEIGH THOMAS, President ofthe Royal College of Surgeons. 
 
 Astley Cooper 
 Thomas Copeland 
 R. C. Headinuton 
 W. B. Lynn 
 B. C. Brodie 
 B. Travers 
 Charles Locock 
 Francis Hawkins 
 James A. Wilson 
 E. C. Thomas 
 W. Reid Clanney 
 
 J. Frost 
 
 William Blizard 
 Joseph H. Green 
 George Langstaff 
 James Luke 
 Henry Halford 
 J. M. Latham 
 John Webster 
 Wm. Babingxon 
 J. A. Paris 
 George Blrkbeck 
 
 Anth. Carlisle 
 J. Macbraire 
 J. D. Broughton 
 J. Harrison C uktis 
 William Clift 
 John Ashburner 
 William Manning 
 Edward Stanley 
 E. H. Phillips 
 Henry Hunt 
 John Scott, &c. 
 
 Having seen and examined the two Siamese Youths, Chang ar.d 
 Eng, I have great pleasure in affirming they constitute a most ex- 
 traordinary Lusus Natures, the first instance I have ever seen of a 
 living double child ; they being totally devoid cf deception, afford 
 a very interesting spectacle, and they are highly deserving of pub- 
 lic patronage. (Signed) JOSHUA BROOKS. 
 
 The above are from a large number of testimonials, which are 
 open to the inspection of the visiters to the Exhibition in a book 
 kept there for the purpose. 
 
■ 
 
 
 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historicalaccoun01hale_0 
 
 
ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE ^ 
 
 SIAMESE TIIT.V BROTHERS* 
 
 The kingdom of Siam, from whence these interesting 
 youths were brought, is situated between the Chinese and 
 Burmese empires, and is tributary to the former. Bankok, 
 the capital city of the empire, is in latitude 13° N. and 
 longitude 101° E., on the river Minam, about 40 miles 
 from its mouth. Many of the houses, which are of bamboo, 
 are built upon rafts, and moored in the river in such situa- 
 tions as suit the convenience of the occupiers. There are 
 houses, belonging to the higher classes of people, on shore 
 built of brick, and painted white; that of the King is en- 
 closed within walls about two miles in circumference; his 
 household consists of about three thousand individuals, of 
 whom seven hundred are his wives. The person of the 
 King is considered so sacred, that when he leaves the pre- 
 cincts of the palace, (about twice a year,) the streets are 
 cleared of people, the doors and windows of all buildings 
 closed, and any person found guilty of looking at his most 
 excellent Majesty, is punished with immediate death. 
 
 The government of Siam is probably one of the most 
 despotic and cruel in the world. As an instance of the ty- 
 ranny of the King, it may be mentioned, that during the 
 residence of Capt. Coffin in Bankok, in 1829, he was or- 
 dered by his Majesty to witness the punishment preparing 
 for the prince of Laos, who had revolted from his allegiance, 
 and was subsequently taken prisoner. When Capt. Coffin 
 
G 
 
 saw him, he and thirteen of his family were confined in an 
 iron cage, loaded with heavy chains. From thence he was to 
 be taken to the place of execution, and there hung by a hook 
 to be inserted under his chin ; he was afterwards to be seat- 
 ed upon sharp pikes five inches long ; then to be placed in 
 boiling oil, and finally pounded to pumice in an immense 
 mortar. All these cruelties would doubtless have been con- 
 summated, had not the Prince escaped their horrid infliction, 
 by poisoning himself the day before the sentence was to 
 have been carried into execution. 
 
 Eng and Chang,* the young men now brought before 
 the public, are natives of a small village on the sea-coast 
 of Siam, called Maklong, about 60 miles from the capital. 
 They were born in May, 1811, of Chinese parents, and are 
 united to each other by a ligature, or band, about three and 
 an half inches in length and eight in circumference form- 
 ed at the extremity of the breast bone of each, and ex- 
 tending downwards to the abdomen. The upper part of 
 the band is a strong cartilaginous substance; the lower 
 part is soft and fleshy, and contains a tube or cavity, pre- 
 sumed to be about an inch and an half in circumference. 
 What the contents of this cavity may be, cannot be deter- 
 mined during their lives; 1 have, however, inserted at the 
 end of the book the opinions of scientific men upon the sub- 
 ject, to which the reader is referred. On the lower edge of 
 the band, exactly in its centre, is situated the umbilicus or 
 navel; (there being but ONE in common between them ;) a 
 pressure upon the lower part of the band when they cough, 
 laugh, or sneeze, would cause considerable pain, which 
 would be equally felt by each. If the connecting link be 
 touched in the centre, both are equally sensible to it; but 
 if half an inch from the centre, it is only felt by one. 
 There is nevertheless a considerable degree of nervous 
 
 * It may be observed that Eng is always on the right, Chang consequently 
 c n the left. Their names are pronounced as if spelt In and Chun. 
 
7 
 
 sympathy between the iwo bodies, but it is entirely over- 
 powered by the operation of the mind. This was strongly 
 proved at one time by Dr. Roget, secretary to the Royal 
 Society, by means of a galvanic experiment. I am clearly 
 of opinion that there is a degree of muscular power in the 
 band, and that strength is sometimes communicated from 
 one to the other. The flexibility of the cartilage is so 
 great, that they can readily turn those shoulders towards 
 each other, which are outward when walking ; indeed there 
 probably would have been no difficulty in their walking 
 either way, had they learned to do so when young. Their 
 mother observed that she suffered no greater inconve- 
 nience at their birth, than at those of former children, as 
 they were very small, and the head of one was presented 
 between the legs of the other. She has had a number of 
 other children without any peculiarity', all of whom ex- 
 cepting Chang and Eng, and a brother and sister, are dead. 
 Their father died when they were eight years of age; 
 about the same time they w'ere severely affected with 
 the small pox, and shortly afterwards, the measles ; by 
 both these disorders they were equally ill, recovered at 
 the same moment, and by the same remedies. Since that 
 time they' have never suffered by any illness, excepting 
 occasionally a slight cough. They have been several 
 months at sea, but never were ill in consequence of it, so 
 as to cause nausea ; on the contrary, they were always 
 remarkably well on shipboard, would frequently go aloft, 
 and many times have expressed a wish that they might at 
 some future day command a ship of their own. 
 
 Their parents were of the poorer class, and until the 
 youths left their home, they were engaged in fishing, 
 manufacturing cocoanut oil, keeping poultry, &lc. for the 
 support of their family.' A visitor once asked them what 
 was their occupation in their own country ; when they fa- 
 
8 
 
 cetiously answered that they were merchants, having been 
 engaged in the duck and egg trade. 
 
 They left Siam on the 1st April, 1829, under the pro- 
 tection of Capt. Abel Coffin, on board the American ship 
 Sachem, which was commanded by him, and who had 
 obtained the consent of their parent and of the govern- 
 ment, to their leaving the country. The mother and chil- 
 dren were equally pleased with the voyage, as a sufficiency 
 was left for her support, and all were aware of the respect- 
 ability of those in whose charge they were placed. The 
 youths never express any desire to return to their native 
 country, excepting to visit their friends, after which they 
 hope to pass the remainder of their lives in Europe or 
 America. 
 
 They are as near as possible of the same height, about 
 five feet two inches ; are finely formed in every respect, 
 and possess a great degree of muscular power for persons 
 of their size. I have known them to carry a person up- 
 wards of an hundred feet, whose weight was 280 pounds; 
 and to throw others without any difficulty, whose weight 
 much exceeded theirs, which was on the 1st Jan. 1831, 
 210 pounds; having gained 40 pounds within a year. 
 They are remarkably agile, can walk or run with great 
 swiftness, and can swim as well as most singlt- persons. 
 Their activity can readily be imagined by those w ho have 
 seen them playing at battledore and shuttlecock, a game 
 of which they are particularly fond, as combining exer- 
 cise with recreation. They continue to dress in their na- 
 tive costume, and their hair, which is about four feet in 
 length, i' braided in the Chinese style. In doing this, in 
 washing, dressing, or in any other occupation, they re- 
 quire no assistance, each acting for himself with as per- 
 fect ease as would an individual. 
 
 Their intellectual powers are very acute, and in this 
 
9 
 
 respect it has not been observed that one possesses the 
 slightest decree of superiority over the other. The wisdom 
 of Providence is herein strongly manifested; for did any 
 mental superiority exist, it would necessarily lead to con- 
 tentions and struggles for pre-eminence, which happily is 
 so far from being the case, that many who have visited them, 
 have left them under the impression that they were actuated 
 by only one mind, so simultaneous were they in ali their 
 movements. They play at chess and draughts remarkably 
 well, but never in opposition to each other: having been 
 asked to do it, they replied that no more pleasure would be 
 derived from it, than by playing with the right hand against 
 the left. 
 
 They are so conversant with the English language, that 
 they can understand all that is said to them, and converse 
 with tolerable fluency : they are also very desirous to make 
 themselves generally acquainted with the manners and cus- 
 toms of our country. 
 
 A volume might be filled by enumerating their shrewd- 
 ness and keenness of remark ; and to mention one or two 
 instances here may not be deemed improper. A visitor once 
 came into the room, who had but one ey-* ; upon which they 
 observed to the'door-keeper that the gentleman should have 
 paid only half price for admission, as he had only half the 
 chance to see which others had. On seeing a cripple who 
 had lost both hands and feet, they made him a present, 
 remarking that as they had four hands and he none, it was 
 not only a pleasure, but their duty to assist him. 
 
 The ex-king of France, Charles X. once visited them 
 in Liverpool, and on leaving them, made them a present 
 of a piece of gold ; after he was gone, they observed that 
 they supposed the reason why he gave them gold, was be- 
 cause he had no crown. Indeed, there are few who visit 
 them, who escape their notice, and they generally amuse 
 
10 
 
 themselves and friends an hour or two in the evening, by 
 relating some of the strange observations they have heard 
 during the da}', and in remarks upon those they have seen 
 at the exhibition room. 
 
 Their feelings are warm and affectionate, and their con- 
 duct amiable and well-regulated. They are very suscepti- 
 ble, and an act of kindness or affectionate treatment of any 
 description is never forgotten, while an injury or insult 
 offered to one is equally resented by the other. They 
 never enter into conversation or discussion with each other, 
 because, possessing as before observed the same quantum 
 of intellect, and having been placed constantly in the same 
 circumstances, precisely the same effects have been produced 
 upon the mind of each ; therefore they have not that to com- 
 municate which two other beings would have underthe com- 
 mon circumstances of distinct observation. It is occasion- 
 ally observed that a simple remark may be made by one to 
 the other, but I have never known them to enter into con- 
 versation with each other. The attempt has been frequent- 
 ly made to engage them in separate conversations with 
 different individuals, but without success, as they are in- 
 variably inclined to direct their attentions to the same thing 
 at the same time. 
 
 In their movements the most perfect equanimity is ob- 
 served, the one always concurring with the other so exactly, 
 that they appear as if actuated by one common mind, and 
 it is next to impossible, by the strictest scrutiny to discover 
 with which the impulse originates, whenever they arise of 
 their own accord. In their necessary employments of life, 
 or in their amusements, they have never been known to 
 pass an angry word with each other ; and whenever either 
 wishes to pursue any particular course, he immediately 
 follows the bent of his inclinations, without the least inti- 
 mation by word or motion to the other, who, nevertheless, 
 
11 
 
 readily coincides, and without the slightest hesitation, 
 moves wherever the will of the former may direct. As 
 the one always assents to the movements of the other, and 
 as no words pass between them, it is curious to imagine how 
 such assent is conveyed. 
 
 Their appetites are remarkably good, and they are now 
 quite accustomed to, and pleased with, the general living 
 of this country. Their usual beverage is tea, coffee, or 
 water; wine or spirits they seldom taste. Their likings 
 or distastes for particular food are the same precisely ; 
 whatever pleases one, gratifies also the other; and any 
 thing unpleasant to one, has the same effect upon the mind 
 of his brother. This remark applies not only to food, but 
 also to persons and things with w hich they come in con- 
 tact. They invariably feel hunger and thirst at the same 
 time, and the quantity of food taken by them is as nearly 
 alike as possible. 
 
 Both feel the desire to sleep simultaneously, and they 
 always awake at the same moment. I have never yet 
 known one to be sleeping and the other awake at the same 
 time; indeed, when asleep, so great is the nervous sympa- 
 thy which exists between them, that a touch upon the body 
 of either will awaken both. While in bed, they are not 
 confined to any particular position, but rest on either side, 
 as may best suit their convenience, generally, however, 
 with their faces towards each other. They usually sleep 
 nine or ten hours each night, and quite soundly ; when 
 they do feel restless, and desire to vary their position, the 
 one must roll entirely over the other, and they have fre- 
 quently been observed to do this without either awaking or 
 being apparently disturbed by the change. 
 
 Upon the possibility or otherwise of separating them by 
 surgical means, some difference appears in the opinions of 
 scientific men ; ninety-nine in an hundred believe it alto- 
 
12 
 
 gether impossible, and all, that it would be an experiment 
 of such risk, as not to be warranted, unless in the event of 
 the death of one; and that is considered as almost an im- 
 possibility, in consequence of the strong degree of circu- 
 lation which is between them. It is, however, to them a 
 very unpleasant subject, and they feel quite averse to have 
 it spoken of. They have often remarked, that they never 
 saw any single person as happv as they are, therefore they 
 have no reason to wish for a change. 
 
 The humidity of a northern climate did not at first agree 
 with them, the weather, on their arrival in England, being 
 unceasingly damp and foggy ; both, inconsequence, were 
 severely affected by colds and coughs, in equal degrees, 
 from which they recovered simultaneously- During the 
 dark and foggy days, they would sometimes take a deaden- 
 ed coal from the grate, and, holding it up, call it the Lon- 
 don sun ; and the day after their arrival there, it being 
 necessary to have lighted candles in the drawing room at 
 noon, in consequence of the fog and smoke, they went to 
 bed, insisting that it was not possible it could be day-time. 
 Snow they had never seen till they went to England, and 
 bn first viewing it, they were much astonished, inquiring 
 whether it was sugar or salt. 
 
 The youths arrived in the United States from their na- 
 tive country, in August, 1829 ; remained in America eight 
 weeks, and embarked for London, where they arrived on 
 the 19th November following. They remained in Great 
 Britain until January, 1S31, having travelled upwards of 
 2500 miles in the kingdom, and received the visits of about 
 300,000 individuals in London, Edinburgh. Dublin, Li- 
 verpool, Manchester, Bath, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Bristol, 
 Birmingham, and most of the principal cities and towns 
 in the kingdom. They were honoured by visits from her 
 Majesty, Queen Adelaide, and others of the Royal family, 
 
13 
 
 the foreign ambassadors, nobility, and by most of the phi- 
 losophers and scientific men of the age. 
 
 Having thus, in order to gratify public curiosity, hastily 
 put together a few prominent facts regarding this extraor- 
 dinary variety in the works of Almighty power, it need 
 scarcely be observed, that the most fastidious female will 
 find nothing in the exhibition to wound her delicate feelings. 
 Ladies of the first rank, both in Europe and America, have 
 visited them daily in great numbers; and of all who have 
 honoured them with their company, none have appeared 
 more gratified than the gentler sex. 
 
 Being constantly with them, ladies and gentlemen may 
 feel assured that I shall at all times be happy to give any 
 further information in my power, and that all questions re- 
 specting- them will- be most cheerfully answered. 
 
 JAS. W. HALE. 
 
 In order to gratify the numerous professional and sci- 
 entific gentlemen who continually visit the exhibition 
 room, the following remarks are subjoined. The first 
 paper was written by George B. Bolton, Esq., member of 
 the Royal College of Surgeons, &c., London, and who 
 was their constant medical attendant while there. The 
 latter isfrom a paper by Drs. Mitchil! and Anderson, writ- 
 ten at the time of their visit to America, in 1829. 
 
 Extracts from a paper read before the Royal Society, London, 
 April 1st, 1830, by G. B. Bolton, Esq. 
 
 ******** “The band of union is formed in 
 the following manner : At the lowest part of the sternum o! each 
 boy, the ensiform cartilage is bent upwards and forwards, meet- 
 ing the other in the middle of the. upper part of the band, where 
 moveable- joints exist, which admit of vertical as well as lateral 
 motion, each junction appearing to be connected by ligamentous 
 
14 
 
 structures. It is difficult to define precisely where the respective 
 cartilages from each body meet, and whether a slip from one of 
 the cartilages of the false ribs enters into the structure of these 
 parts; but it is certain that the ensiform cartilages have assumed 
 an extended and altered figure. This_cartilagenous portion oc- 
 cupies the upper region ol the band. The outline of the baud 
 is convex above and arched below. Under the cartilage, while 
 they stand in their ordinary posture, are large hernial sacs, 
 opening into each abdomen, and into which, on coughing, con- 
 genital herniae are lorced, probably in each boy, formed by a 
 portion of the transverse arch of the colon ; generally, however, 
 and under ordinary circumstances, these herniae are not apparent. 
 Whether there is a communication between the two abdominal 
 cavities, or a distinct peritoneal sac belonging to each hernia, is 
 by no means obvious. **■**■*•*■*#*** 
 “When these herniae protrude, their respective contents are 
 pushed forwards as far as the middle of the band. The entire 
 band is covered with common integument ; and when the youths 
 face each other, its length at the upper edge is two, and at the 
 lower, not quite four inches. From above, downwards, it is 
 three inches and a quarter, and its greatest thickness is one inch 
 and five eighths. In the centre of the lower part of this band, 
 which presents a thin edge, formed only by skin and cellular 
 substance, there is the cicatrix of a single navel, showing where 
 the umbilical cord or cords had entered, and which. I have no 
 doubt, contained two sets of vessels. Small blood-vessels and 
 nerves must of course traverse the substance of the band. * * * 
 I have had an opportunity of examining a preparation of united 
 female twins, now in the museum of the Royal College of Sur- 
 geons in London. The union extends from the lower part of 
 the sternum of each twin to the navel ; and there is one umbili- 
 cal cord common to both. On dissection, the following appear- 
 ances were observed. The umbilical vein, in its course towards 
 the twins, is divided into two r. early equal sized branches, the di- 
 vision taking place at about one inch and three quarters from the 
 umbilicus ; one branch passing upwards in front to the porta of 
 the anterior liver, and the other behind to its proper liver. The 
 
15 - 
 
 number of arteries are four, two from each foetus, and are includ- 
 ed in the same theca with the umbilical vein as far as the body, 
 retaining the appearance of an ordinary funis.” 
 
 Extracts from a paper by Drs. Sami. L. Mitchill and \Vm. An- 
 derson, of New- York. 
 
 The ensiform cartilage at the end of each 
 sternum is united to its fellow, and has been in part ossified, 
 forming a hard elastic upper edge to the band which connects 
 these hoys. This is convex upward and concave below, becom- 
 ing the upper boundary of a canal, which is in the band, that 
 communicates with the abdominal cavities of both the youths, 
 from which fact, the canal is necessarily lined by a continuation 
 of the natural peritoneal membrane of the cavities, and the whole 
 of this is covered by common integuments. At about midway 
 in the under edge of the band, is exhibited the cicatrix of an um- 
 bilicus, shewing wherein the single cord, but no doubt containing 
 two sets of vessels, entered, for the nourishment of these two 
 children before birth. 
 
 “ Into the canal of this almost cylindrical band, there is a pro- 
 trusion of the viscus from the abdomen of its respective boy, 
 upon every effort of coughing or other exercise ; and these pro- 
 trusions, from their particular hardness and size, more at some 
 times than others, we might suppose to be made up of any of the 
 abdominal viscera, as intestine, liver, stomach, or spleen, as each 
 should happen in the various positions of their bodies, to be pre- 
 sented to the openings, since we believe that parts of every abdo- 
 minal or pelvic viscus, excepting the kidneys, have been found 
 from time to time to enter into the composition of hernial tu- 
 mours. 
 
 “A question has arisen, which has been discussed with some 
 warmth, whether they could be separated with safety. We think 
 they could not ; and would barely refer to the experience of Scar- 
 pa and Sir Astley Cooper, with whom might be included a host of 
 others, quite familiar to the well-read surgeon, for a decision upon 
 the ill success of the operation for exomphalos. Dionis, you 
 
1G 
 
 know, says, in relation to the operation for umbilical hernia, ‘that 
 those who have the misfortune to be afflicted with an exomphalos, 
 should rather dispense with r shirt than a well adapted truss 
 and Acister says much about the same thing. Sir Astley Cooper 
 has said in hearing of one of the writers in his public lectures 
 more than twenty years ago, ‘ Gentlemen, I have operated • for 
 umbilical hernia once, and shall never do it again hinting at the 
 general fatal issue of the operation then in practice, since heh d 
 cut into the peritoneal cavity at the umbilicus. Professor Scar- 
 pa, the acknowledged distinguished anatomist and surgeon, 
 speaks of the great fatality of the usual operation for exompha- 
 los ; and recommends the one, when necessary, which has oflate 
 been in practice by Sir Astley Cooper, which consists in dividing 
 the stricture and performing the whole operation without cutting 
 into any part of the hernial sac, or peritoneal membrane, under 
 which circumstances, it has with Sir Astley Cooper been twice 
 successful. Now if such an operation could be practicable, for 
 the liberation of these boys, then it might be deemed advisable, 
 other permissions co-operating ; but since any ct tting accom- 
 plishing their separation, (if our description of their connexion be 
 correct,) would expose the peritoneal cavity, then, in that situa- 
 tion, it would be attended with the most dangerous consequen- 
 ces.” 
 
I 
 
 Hale 
 
 1831