They are two distinct and perfect youths, well formed and straight,
about eighteen years of age, and possessing all the faculties and
powers usually enjoyed at that period of life. They are united
together by a short band at the pit of the stomach. On first seeing
them, it may be supposed, so closely are their sides together--or
rather, they over-lap a little--that there is no space between them.
On examining them, however, they are found not to touch each other,
the band which connects them being, at its shortest part, which is the
upper and back part, about two inches long. At the lower front part
the band, which is there soft and fleshy, or rather like soft thick
skin, is about five inches long, and would be elastic, were it not for
a thick rope-like cartilaginous or gristly substance, which forms the
upper part of the band, and which is not above three inches long. The
band is probably two inches thick at the upper part, and above an inch
at the lower part. The back part of the band, which is rounded from a
thickening at the places where it grows from each body, is not so long
as the front part, which is comparatively flat. The breadth or depth
of the band is about four inches. It grows from the lower and centre
part of the breast of each boy, being a continuation of the
cartilaginous termination of the breast bone, accompanied by muscles
and blood-vessels, and enveloped, like every other portion of the
body, with skin, &c. At present this band is not very flexible; and
there is reason to believe that the cartilaginous substance of the
upper part is gradually hardening, and will eventually become bone.
From the nature of the band, and the manner in which it grows from
each boy, it is impossible that they should be in any other position
in relation to each other, but side by side, like soldiers, or coming
up a little to front each other. Their arms and legs are perfectly
free to move. The band is the only connexion between them; and their