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Image by James Mundie |
THE SIAMESE TWINS
POST MORTEM EXAMINATION
A dispatch from Philadelphia
to the New York Tribune, dated Feb. 16, gives the
following particulars of the post mortem examination:
"The scalpel was first used
on the connecting band between the Siamese twins this
morning, the work on previous days being continued to taking
casts, photographing, embalming and examining the viscera,
which were found not to differ from those of ordinary
beings, the heart liver, spleen and digestive canal being
well developed in each. Approaching the band, the
lower portion of the uniform cartilage of the breast-bone in
each joins by doubling or bending out, making almost a long
union with a distinct joint at the central point of union on
which the bodies hinge freely. This joint is similar
to, but not so complicated as that at the elbow. The
circumference of the band at the smallest part is nine
inches, and the chins of the twins, when as far apart as
possible, are eight inches from each other. To-day the skin
of each body was cut through posterior and thrown back from
the band and adjacent structures, exposing the rectus muscle
of each. Abdominal sections were made, and the
question whether a severance could have been made safely in
life settled in the negative with almost certainty.
The lining membranes of the abdomen in each were found to
enter the band and form pouches overlapping each other at
the centre of the band. What was most peculiar here
was the presence of two such poaches from the body of Chang,
the upper one shorter than the lower, but each lapping one
from above and the other from below the stagle pouch of Eng.
Holding the first joint of the forefinger between the thumb
and finger of the other hand will give an exact idea of the
arrangement of these pouches. A line passing down the
centre of the band would sever all three of these
prolongations and open the abdominal cavity of each of the
twins. If the knife had been used in life death would
therefore probably, if not necessarily, have resulted.
The examination also showed to-day and to-night that there
was a circulation through the band, as is seen from the
passage of the injecting matter used in embalming. The
abdominal organs lie close in contact with these pouches,
but are not continuous into them. To-morrow the most
important investigation will take place by making a deep
section into the band, with a view of ascertaining the
umbilical connections bearing on the physiological
manifestations are issued marked, Private meeting for the
advantage of the College only, will be a verbal on."
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