An historical account of the Siamese twin brothers, from actual observations.

  • Hale, James W.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical account of the Siamese twin brothers, from actual observations. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    19/22 (page 15)
    number of arteries are four, two from each fcetiig, 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. Saml. L. Mitchill and Wm. 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 boys. 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 cavilies of bolli the youths, from which fact, the canal is necessarily lined by a continuation of the natural peritoneal membrane of (he 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