Report of an autopsy on the bodies of Chang and Eng Bunker, commonly known as the Siamese twins — John Shaqi
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
_Measurements._—Chang was 5 ft. 2-1/2 in. in height; Eng, 5 ft. 3-1/2
in. When the bodies were laid upon a table Chang’s left side and Eng’s
right side were drawn somewhat toward one another. This was most marked
in Chang, and gave a greater inclination of his trunk toward his
brother’s. (See Figs. 1 and 19.)
II. External Appearances of the Band.
When the bodies were suspended and placed face to face, it was evident
that the congenital position had been secured. All observations were
made, as far as was possible, with the bodies in this position. With it
the details of structure, it was thought, could be easily understood;
without it the subject would be difficult and confused.
The “band” was a massive commissure placed between the bodies at the
junction of the abdominal and thoracic regions of each. It was broader
above than below, and had a circumference of nine inches. It presented
four surfaces for examination, an upper, lower, and two lateral
surfaces.
The _upper_ surface was somewhat flattened in both Chang and Eng. The
ensiform cartilage of each body could be felt deflected from the sternum
and prolonged into the band. The base of the cartilage in Eng presented
a rounded circular eminence, measuring one inch in diameter. There was
no corresponding eminence in Chang. The upper aspect of each process
could be well defined beneath the skin, the subcutaneous connective
tissue being more abundant in Chang than in Eng. The upper surface
measured 2-1/2 in. in width at its base towards Eng, and 2-1/3 in. at
its base towards Chang. It was 2 in. wide at its middle.
[Illustration Figure 2:
Fig. 2. The twins in the acquired position (E. R., C. L.), showing
band and the primary incisions, _a-b_, _c-d_. From a
photograph taken after death at Philadelphia. ]
The _lower_ surface was much narrower than the upper. It was marked in
the centre, but nearer the anterior than the posterior border, by a
linear scar one inch in length, which it was thought answered to the
position of the single umbilicus. The skin was adherent at this point,
but elsewhere was easily raised in folds. Behind the scar, _i. e._,
toward the posterior part of the band, the skin was somewhat corrugated.
This portion answered, in position, to Chang’s umbilical pouch.
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