Appendia.—Account of the Siamese Twin Brothers. 213 
Placing my hand on this substance, which I will denominate the cord, 
I was surprised to find it extremely hard. On further examination, 
this hardness was found to exist at the upper part of the cord only ; 
and to be prolonged into the breast of each boy. Tracing it upwards, 
I found it to be constituted by a prolongation of the ensiform carti- 
lage of the sternum, or extremity of the breast bone. The breadth 
of this cartilage is an inch and a half; its thickness may be about 
the eighth of an inch. The cartilages proceeding from each sternum 
meet at an angle, and they seem to be connected by ligament so 
as to form a joint. This joint has a motion upwards and downwards, 
and also a lateral motion ;' the latter operating in such way, that when 
the boys turn in either direction, the edges of the cartilage are found 
to open and shut. The lower face of this cartilage is concave ; and 
under it is felt a rounded cord, which may be the remains of the um- 
bilical cord. Besides this there is nothing remarkable felt in the 
connecting substance. I could distinguish no pulsating vessel. 
The whole of this cord is covered by the skin. It is remarkably 
strong, and has no great sensibility; for they allow themselves to be 
pulled by a rope fastened to it, without exhibiting uneasiness. On 
ship board, one of them sometimes climbed on the capstan of the 
vessel, the other following as well as he could, without complaining. 
When I first visited the boys, I expected to see them pull on this 
cord in different directions, as their attention was attracted by differ- 
ent objects. I soon perceived that this did not happen. The slight- 
est impulse of one to move in any direction, is immediately followed 
by the other ; so that they would appear to be influenced by the 
same wish. ‘This harmony in their movements is not the result of a 
Volition, excited at the same moment. It is a habit, formed by ne- 
cessity. At an early period of life it is probable they sometimes 
differed. At present this is so rarely the case, that the gentlemen 
who brought them, have noticed only a single instance... Having been 
accustomed to use the cold bath, one of them wished it when the 
weather was cool; to which the other objected. They were soon 
reconciled by the interference of the commander of the ship. They 
never hold a consultation as to their movements. In truth, I have 
rarely seen them speak to each other, although they converse con- 
stantly with a Siamese lad, who is their companion. They always 
face in one direction ; standing nearly side by side ; and are not able, 
Without inconvenience, to face in. the opposite direction ; so that one 
is always at the right, the other atthe left. Although not placed ex~ 
