The Siamese Twins

The following is a condensation of the official report of the autopsy inado on the Siamese twins. It will be seen that it differs froiii the report given out heretofore. " The supposition that the band that bound these twins was simply of a íleshy nature has been decided in the nogative. It was found that a peritoneal connection did exist; that is, a refleotion of the extensión of the peculiar inembrane lining of the abdomen extended into the band, though it was not continuous. Sacs or pouches were forined by this refleotion, possessing nocommunicationbetween the two. The intímate viscoral connection between the twins was shown by the injecting fluid, which was passed into the mesenteric vein of one and appeared in the mesenteric vein of the other. "The liver of Chang oocupied its normal position on the right side of his body, below the diaphragm. The liver of Eng was on his left side, next to Chang, his spleen being abnormally situated on the right side of his body. The two livers had evidently at one period of cxistonce - possibly foetal - of the twins been virtually one gland, but had oventually becomo separated. This is sTiown by the passage of the injecting fluid from the mesenteric vein of one to that of the other. " The fact of a common umbilical cord between the twins is also settled, tho naval being situated in the middlo of the band. Duriug fcotal life, therefore, the circulatiou was conducted to the twins from the maternal system precisely as to a single individual. These facts show that a separation of the twins during life would have resulted fatally to one or both of theni. " The nervous intimacy through tho band was extremely elight, and the individuality of the two men so strongly marked that it was not deemed advisable to examino the brains, nothing further than a comparison of the weights of the two. being expccted from such an operation. The extensión of the ensiform cartílago or breast bone, which formed a constituent of the attachment, was a mere flexible fibro-cartilaginous substance, in which there was nothing like an appearance of an elbow-like joint, as has been reported." PniLADELPIllA, Feb. 25. - The second editiou of the Medical Times states that the autopsy of the Siamese twins was continued on Friday last. There were some intercsting disclosures. The commission found that the two livers, which were supposed to be joined only by blood vessels, were really one body, the parenchymatous tissue being contiuous between tliem. so that when they were removed from the bodie3 and placed on the table they formed ono mass. The so-calleil traot of portal continuity is therefore liver tissue. It will bo remembered that Chang was said to bo possessed of one more pouch than Eng. When the hver Was removed, however, an upper hepatic pouch was found, also proceeding from Eng, so that tho band contained fotir souches of peretoneum, besides liver tissue. These disclosures Rhow that any at:empt during life to separate tho twins vould. in all probability, have proved atal. When Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hookor was pleading before the Villimantic seootmen for the admission of wonien as votors, she stated that slio believed one of ;he gentlemen before her was in syinpahy with the movement (referring to Mr. jincoln, the town clerk). Mr. Lincoln sked her the reason for believing so, and he said she could seo it in the twinklo of lis eye. " I beg your pardon," said Mr. jincoln, "but thit eye is a glass eye." The famous Tichborne case (the proseution of the olaimaut for perjury) is to je given to the jury to-day. England remblefl.