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 neaily 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 diea 
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 middie 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 natura] 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 which the 
youths can turn and bring in contact the two opposite sides, instead of thase 
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 
between them; and any description of present passes from one to the 
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