Report on the Autopsy of the Siamese Twins, Together with Other Interesting Information Concerning Their Life
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1874. First edition. Wrappers. Duodecimo. 39 pages. Near fine. Printed paper covers over sewn binding. Some wrinkling along spine, a bit of scattered soil to covers.
Rare booklet on the autopsy of Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins whose fame in the 19th century gave us the expression "Siamese twins." The brothers were born in Siam in 1811, joined at the chest. They were brought to the United States in 1829, toured with "freak shows," and within a decade settled in Mount Airy, North Carolina. They bought slaves, married, and each had a large family. The families lived in separate houses...the brothers alternating between them in 3-day stays. Chang died of a cerebral blood clot on January 17, 1874, and Eng died a few hours later.
The widows consented to a medical examination of the conjoined bodies a matter of public interest The autopsy was performed by a group of physicians that included the twins' personal physician, Dr. Joseph Hollingsworth, as well as Drs. William Pancoast, John Neill, Harrison Allen, and others.
The report included in this booklet, and which was presented at a special meeting of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia, gives the details of the autopsy. It is illustrated with 3 diagrams.
OCLC locates 3 institutional holdings.
Item #797
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