SI'ALIESE TWINS, a name given to two youths, Bug and Chang, born of Chinese parents iu Siam, in 1811, having their bodies united by a band of flesh, stretchiug from the end of one breast-bone to the same place in the opposite twin. The survival to advanced life of such a luaus nature makes this one of the most remnrkable cases on record. A union of the bodies of twins by various parts is not an unusual occurrence (see MoNsmosm). Ambrose Pare has depicted instances of union by the back, belly, and forehead. The last occurred in two -girls, who lived to the age of ten years, when one of them dying, a separation was made; the wound of the living girl assumed a bad character, and soon proved fatal. The Hungarian sisters, who lived about a century since, were united by the back, had one passage from the intestines, and each had one from the urinary organs. They died when they were 22 years of age. The Siamese twins were purchased of their mother at Meklong, a city of Siam, and were brought to America by capt. Coffin and Mr. Hunter in 1829. On examination, the connecting band seemed to have united them at first face to face, but constant traction had so 'changed its direction, that they stood partially side by side. Its length above was about two in.; below, nearly four; from above downward, it measured three in.; and
its greatest thickness was one and a half inches. It was covered with skin, and when the center was touched, both felt it; but on touching either. side of the median line, only the nearest individual was sensible of it. The connection between the Siamese twins presented many interesting points in regard to physiology and pathology, for although they formed two perfectly distinct beings, they appeared most frequently to think, act, and move as one individual.
After realizing a competence by the exhibition of themselves in the various coun tries of Europe, the Siamese twins settled in one of the southern states of America, where they were married to two sisters, and had offspring Owing to domestic quarrels, however, two houses were found necessary, each living with his wife a week at a time alternately. Ruined by the civil war in America, the Siamese twins again made the tour of Europe and exhibited themselves to the public. They died in 1874, the one sur viving the other an hour or two only.
Por a full account of the structural peculiarities of such cases, sec St. Ililaire's Ills toire des Anomalies de l' Organisation d'llomme et des Animane.