MAMMALIA— MAN. 65 



they had other maladies or indispositions separately : for Judith was subject 

 to a cough and a fever ; Helen, on the contrary, enjoyed good health. When 

 they were nearly twenty-one years of age, Judith took a fever, fell into a 

 lethargy, and died ; the unfortunate Helen was obliged to follow her lot. 

 Three minutes before the death of Judith, she fell into an agony, and died 

 almost at the same moment. 



A pair united in a similar manner, has recently been exhibited in the 

 United States and England. They, too, were born in the east, and are 

 known as the Siamese youths. A fleshy band, of from four to six inches 

 long and two broad, proceeding from the pit of each stomach, connects them 

 together. The entire band admits four fingers to pass freely behind it, 

 when the boys stand shoulder to shoulder, and its width and thickness allow 

 the thumb to meet the fingers on the front aspect. The vestiges of one 

 common navel are visible at the lower and middle part of the band, and it 

 is equidistant between the two bodies. The band is hollow, except about 

 an inch in the centre, and there is evidently a hernial protrusion into it 

 from each of the boys, in the action of coughing. Their appearance is 

 healthy, their dispositions cheerful, and their attitudes and motions graceful. 

 They move across the room with all the ease and grace of a couple skilfully 

 waltzing, and seem never to have any difference of intention or purpose 

 which can give pain to their band of union by making them draw different 

 ways. The natural position of the youths, or that which seems to place 

 the connecting ligament in its natural form, is that of face to face. This 

 position, as must be obvious, is extremely inconvenient, and the boys have 

 consequently accustomed themselves to stand or move side by side. Their 

 persons are thus drawn mutually closer, which makes it necessary for one 

 to place his arm about the neck or waist of the other. The position may 

 be varied — that is, the ligament may be made an axis, upon Avhich the 

 youths can turn and bring in contact the two opposite sides, instead of those 

 which were first in collision. Their identity of purpose, and unity of move- 

 ment, combined with a general similarity of tastes, dispositions, and habits, 

 has created in some a suspicion that their organization was more intimately 

 connected than at first sight appears. They eat, drink, and sleep simulta- 

 neously ; their health is affected alike ; and on being conveyed through the 

 streets in a coach, so perfect is their unity of action, that they could not be 

 prevailed upon to look out of its opposite windows. These circumstances 

 many have been disposed to attribute to something more than the power 

 of habit ; but there can be no doubt that the youths are perfectly distinct 

 beings, having each his organization totally independent of the other. 

 This is placed beyond a doubt by various circumstances. No one can fail 

 to be touched with the perfect harmony that subsists between them. At- 

 tempts have been made to create jealousies between them, but without the 

 slightest success. Any gift which they receive capable of division, is shared 

 betAveen them ; and any description of present passes from one to the 

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