The events leading to their death were as follows: About six years ago Chang, who had always been the more excitable, became addicted to immoderate drinking. Three years ago, while on a voyage from Liverpool to New York, he was stricken with hemiplegia of the right side. He in great measure recovered from this attack, but could never ascend and descend stairs with facility. For this reason the twins occupied rooms on the ground floors of their homes.
On Monday evening, Jan. 12th, 1874, Chang was seized, while at his own house, with an attack of bronchitis. He had a cough; scanty, frothy sputa; but no pain. On Wednesday the symptoms had somewhat subsided; the skin was acting freely. Loud bronchial râles were present over the left side of the chest. On Thursday evening the twins insisted upon leaving Chang’s house for Eng’s. The weather was very cold, and the journey was undertaken in an open carriage. On their arrival, however, Chang continued as well as before, until Friday evening, when he complained of thoracic oppression and inability to lie down with comfort. After having retired that evening, the twins were heard to get up, and go out on the porch, by the side of the house, where they drank of water, and returned to their room. They built a large wood fire, and sat down; Eng soon complaining of being sleepy, Chang declaring that he could not breathe if he should lie down. Finally they again retired. They both fell asleep. Near daybreak (Jan. 17th) Eng called to one of his sons, who slept in a room above, to come down and waken Chang. The boy soon made his appearance, and going to the side of Chang, cried out, “Uncle Chang is dead!” Eng at once said “Then I am going!”—It is probable that Chang was sleeping when he died.
Eng made no further mention of Chang other than to request that the body be moved closer to him. Soon afterward Eng desired to have his limbs moved. This desire continued for half an hour. He then asked for a urinal, but did not void over a few drops of urine. He several times repeated the endeavor to micturate, but without success. He then complained of a choking sensation, and asked to be raised in bed. He had continued rational. His last words were “May God have mercy on my soul!” He gradually became fainter, fell into a syncopal state, and died quietly a little over two hours from the announcement to him of the death of his brother.
AUTOPSY.
The Autopsy was begun in the house of Eng, Sunday, February 1st, 1874, and finished in the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians, at Philadelphia.
Age of subjects, 63 years. Examination made about fifteen days and eight hours after death. The weather had been cold. No preservative had been employed prior to the date of the autopsy.
I. Post-mortem Appearances.
The following is their description in Chang.
Body moderately emaciated. Rigor mortis none. The fingers of the right hand were semi-flexed, a condition due doubtless to the long-standing paralysis of the right upper extremity. Passive congestion was marked over entire dorsal aspect of the neck, trunk, and upper extremities. It was less marked over the corresponding surfaces of the forearm and legs. The feet and hands were almost entirely free. The superficial veins in the last-named localities, especially in the left foot, were distended. The passive congestion extended over the right thoracic region as far as the median line, and on the front of both thighs, especially the right. Upon the head the congestion was seen behind and beneath the ears, and was sparsely distributed over both malar prominences. The lips were discolored. The integument of the genitals was infiltrated, the scrotum particularly being much swollen. There was extensive greenish discoloration on the anterior abdominal wall. The left external abdominal ring was enlarged. Both testicles were within the scrotum. The hair of the head was gray. That on the right side of the pubis was black, that on the left was of an iron-gray color.
The following is their description in Eng.