Report of an autopsy on the bodies of Chang and Eng Bunker, commonly known as the Siamese twinsAllen, Harrison
History
Report of an autopsy on the bodies of Chang and Eng Bunker, commonly known as the Siamese twins
Allen, Harrison
Conjoined twins
They were married in April, 1843, and raised large families; Chang
having had ten, and Eng twelve children. Chang had three boys and seven
girls; Eng had seven boys and five girls. These were in all respects
average children, excepting two, a boy and girl of Chang’s, who were
deaf-mutes.
The twins resided in a rolling country, about four miles from Mount
Airy, Surrey Co., N. C. They were prosperous farmers, each owning his
own farm. The dwellings of the two families were a mile and a half
apart. The twins resided three days in each of the homes alternately.
They were expert in the handling of tools, in plowing, shingling,
shooting, etc. They lived much in the open air, and frequently drove in
a carriage to the neighboring village.
The events leading to their death were as follows: About six years ago
Chang, who had always been the more excitable, became addicted to
immoderate drinking. Three years ago, while on a voyage from Liverpool
to New York, he was stricken with hemiplegia of the right side. He in
great measure recovered from this attack, but could never ascend and
descend stairs with facility. For this reason the twins occupied rooms
on the ground floors of their homes.
On Monday evening, Jan. 12th, 1874, Chang was seized, while at his own
house, with an attack of bronchitis. He had a cough; scanty, frothy
sputa; but no pain. On Wednesday the symptoms had somewhat subsided; the
skin was acting freely. Loud bronchial râles were present over the left
side of the chest. On Thursday evening the twins insisted upon leaving
Chang’s house for Eng’s. The weather was very cold, and the journey was
undertaken in an open carriage. On their arrival, however, Chang
continued as well as before, until Friday evening, when he complained of
thoracic oppression and inability to lie down with comfort. After having
retired that evening, the twins were heard to get up, and go out on the
porch, by the side of the house, where they drank of water, and returned
to their room. They built a large wood fire, and sat down; Eng soon
complaining of being sleepy, Chang declaring that he could not breathe
if he should lie down. Finally they again retired. They both fell
asleep. Near daybreak (Jan. 17th) Eng called to one of his sons, who
slept in a room above, to come down and waken Chang. The boy soon made
his appearance, and going to the side of Chang, cried out, “Uncle Chang
is dead!” Eng at once said “Then I am going!”—It is probable that Chang
was sleeping when he died.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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