Chang and Eng Bunker

[Danny62]

They were the most famous conjoined twins chiefly because they were the first conjoined twins that most of the world had ever seen due to their extreme rarity. They were born in Siam (now Thailand) in 1811 at a time when most conjoined twins died in childbirth due to the intense danger and difficulty of removing them from the womb. The six-inch band of tissue that joined Chang and Eng at the waist initially had them face to face but a doctor early in their lives taught them how to stretch it so that they could stand side by side. In 1829, a visiting Scot convinced the government to allow the brothers to leave Siam for a tour of the United States. They became an extremely popular attraction in sideshows and eventually toured England. They were so famous in fact that the term Siamese Twins (because of their birthplace Siam) became the lay person's term for conjoined twins. They retired from the sideshow circuit in 1839 while they were working for P.T. Barnum. They retired to Wilksborough, North Carolina but in order to become citizens they had to adopt a last name which became Bunker (for reasons unknown). In 1844, the brothers met and fell in love with sisters Adalaide and Sarah Yates, daughters of a local minister. The brothers had been content with their joined bodies but when the Yates’ parents met their marriage proposal with blinding disapproval Chang and Eng decided to try surgery to separate them. But doctors feared separating them would kill one or both because they weren’t sure what was contained in the band of tissue that was holding them together. At the time there were no X-ray machines and no treatment for infection. Despite the difficulty of the living conditions the brothers did marry the sisters and produced over 20 children. Years later Chang became an alcoholic and the two brothers fought incessantly. In 1874 Chang suffered a stroke and was bed-ridden and a short time later died of bronchitis. Eng could do nothing and two hours after his brother’s death died apparently of shock. When they died they were 63 years old, a phenomenally long life for conjoined twins at the time.

May 11, 1811-Jan17, 1874

[Kathyf]

These are the conjoined twins I always saw growing up.

[SomeChick]

This interesting little movie draws parallels between the lives of Chang & Eng and the lead character(s) played by Jeremy Irons. Warning, demented gynecologists ahead:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094964/

It's worth a look-see if you're interested in out-there cinema.

Here's a link to their website including a pic of their double headstone. Lots of fascinating stuff in there. Especially the picture gallery:

http://engandchang.twinstuff.com/

[Kathyf]

so interesting Thanks

[limey]

It amazes me that they had children! Can you imagine trying to have sex with your husband and there is his brother lying right beside the two of you reading a book or something!

[MorbidMolly]

It amazes me that they had children! Can you imagine trying to have sex with your husband and there is his brother lying right beside the two of you reading a book or something!

I KNOW...for some reason this is what amazed me the most.....I still love them, and their story....they were 2 smart cookies....

[Danny62]

These are the conjoined twins I always saw growing up.

Wow!! you grew up in the 1800's??

Just kidding!!

[Jazbabee]

I'll be honest.....I always wondered about their sex lives. The sisters look like prudes, but there would always have to be a 3rd person (minimum) present. I mean, did both brothers participate ? How could one just be there and do nothing ?? How did the women deal with lack of privacy ? I want to know !!! (lol) But they obviously did, these 2 were prolific !!

[cleanskull]

Damn, think of the pornos they could have made.

[endsleigh03]

I'll be honest.....I always wondered about their sex lives. The sisters look like prudes, but there would always have to be a 3rd person (minimum) present. I mean, did both brothers participate ? How could one just be there and do nothing ?? How did the women deal with lack of privacy ? I want to know !!! (lol) But they obviously did, these 2 were prolific !!

I am sure everyone involved shared in the excitement factor, whether they were supposed to or not .
Talk about a threesome.
Foursome?

[SomeChick]

I'll be honest.....I always wondered about their sex lives. The sisters look like prudes, but there would always have to be a 3rd person (minimum) present. I mean, did both brothers participate ? How could one just be there and do nothing ?? How did the women deal with lack of privacy ? I want to know !!! (lol) But they obviously did, these 2 were prolific !!

A curtain was involved. Don't look at me like that, it's true!

[endsleigh03]

A curtain was involved. Don't look at me like that, it's true!

I bet somebody peeked!

[endsleigh03]

A curtain and earphones?

[Jaxxx]

a curtain....still I think it would be odd to have someone next to you listening, they were pretty active 20 children!

[DoubleZ1013]

I read something in one of their biographies (the title escapes me) and yes there was a curtain. THey described it in detail where the twins would be laying down because the band that they were connected by could stretch so that they could be lying or standing side to side. Then the curtain woudl be affixed and the one who was getting it on would straddle her husband and go at it. Then they would switch houses so the other could get some.

[Finnegan]

l'm boggled as to the separate houses.
they lived in one mon- thurs, the other from fri-sun?

[MorbidMolly]

l'm boggled as to the separate houses.
they lived in one mon- thurs, the other from fri-sun?

I`m still trying to digest the " curtain " thing.....

[Shawver83]

Alex Sink, the chief financial officer for the state of Florida, is the great-grandaughter of Chang & Eng...I'm not sure which one exactly!

[SomeChick]

I read something in one of their biographies (the title escapes me) and yes there was a curtain. THey described it in detail where the twins would be laying down because the band that they were connected by could stretch so that they could be lying or standing side to side. Then the curtain woudl be affixed and the one who was getting it on would straddle her husband and go at it. Then they would switch houses so the other could get some.

Yeah the whole curtain thing is what appears to have kept the families sane along with the separate houses thing. Each wife felt she had a cohesive family unit with some privacy that way is what I get from research on them.

They're just so darned fascinating!

[Finnegan]

Yeah the whole curtain thing is what appears to have kept the families sane along with the separate houses thing. Each wife felt she had a cohesive family unit with some privacy that way is what I get from research on them.

They're just so darned fascinating!

wow. l can't imagine being that co-operative with anyone - the twins and their wives included.
l wouldn't be nearly patient enough for that!

[Danny62]

Damn, think of the pornos they could have made.

I don't know if I want to think of that!! LOL

[KCBee]

It amazes me that they had children! Can you imagine trying to have sex with your husband and there is his brother lying right beside the two of you reading a book or something!

No. I can't. I also can't imagine being conjoined to an alcoholic. Would I get drunk when my brother went on a binge?

Can you imagine the horror of knowing you have to die because your brother just did? I am sure if the had been born later in history, they could have been succesfully separated.

[GrinReaper]

I read something in one of their biographies (the title escapes me) and yes there was a curtain. THey described it in detail where the twins would be laying down because the band that they were connected by could stretch so that they could be lying or standing side to side. Then the curtain woudl be affixed and the one who was getting it on would straddle her husband and go at it. Then they would switch houses so the other could get some.

Interesting to see that I'm not the only one thinking about their sex lives.
Hey there fellow pervs!

I dunno about you but I would get bored always doing it in one position.
I'd drive my brother nuts!
"What!? I have to turn over and get on my knees just so you can do her doggy style, again!? What is that!? Three times this week!?"

[GrinReaper]

Damn, think of the pornos they could have made.

Like in the movie "Stuck on You."

[herekittykitty]

Interesting to see that I'm not the only one thinking about their sex lives.
Hey there fellow pervs!

I dunno about you but I would get bored always doing it in one position.
I'd drive my brother nuts!
"What!? I have to turn over and get on my knees just so you can do her doggy style, again!? What is that!? Three times this week!?"

hi yourself!

Do we know for sure that the curtain separating the 2 was never raised??? that might take the edge off the boredom, knowwhatImean?

[theotherlondon]

I have the book: The Two - the story of the original siamese twins.
By Irving Wallace and Amy Wallace.

[Long Gone Day]

And one became an alcoholic? It's a wonder the other brother didn't grab the beer out of his hand, or whatever they drank back then in North Carolina. Whiskey?

Now, that would be something on "Intervention"

[Luanne]

I read something in one of their biographies (the title escapes me) and yes there was a curtain. THey described it in detail where the twins would be laying down because the band that they were connected by could stretch so that they could be lying or standing side to side. Then the curtain woudl be affixed and the one who was getting it on would straddle her husband and go at it. Then they would switch houses so the other could get some.

I'm borrowing Finnegan's avatar as my response to this:

[hallucinex]

I went to the Mütter Museum in Philly this past weekend while visiting for my cousin's wedding. They have a neat little exhibit and plaster cast of Chang and Eng and also a chair they owned that was extra wide. Total death hag heaven!