Report of an autopsy on the bodies of Chang and Eng Bunker, commonly known as the Siamese twins

"Report of an autopsy on the bodies of Chang and Eng Bunker, commonly known as the Siamese Twins" by Harrison Allen, M.D. is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The book provides a meticulous account of the autopsy conducted on the remains of the famous conjoined twins who lived a notably unique life, illustrating the medical details surrounding their physiological condition and eventual demise. The work is both a detailed medical investigation and a historical account that examines the complexities of their anatomy and the implications of their existence as conjoined individuals. In this report, Allen describes the twins' backgrounds, including their birth in Siam and eventual life as successful farmers in North Carolina, where they led relatively normal family lives, marrying and raising children. The autopsy details reveal the unique anatomical features resulting from their conjoinment through a band connecting their bodies, as well as the pathological conditions that contributed to their deaths. Chang's history of health issues, including alcoholism and paralysis, precedes his sudden death from bronchitis, which deeply affected Eng, who subsequently died soon after. Allen's analysis includes thorough descriptions of their bodily organs, shared circulatory systems, and the consequences of their remarkable, albeit challenging, physical condition, contributing valuable insights to the fields of anatomy and medicine.