Chang and Eng the Siamese twins, eating and drinking to excess
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| Caption | Chang and Eng the Siamese twins, eating and drinking to excess. Coloured etching by W Heath, 1829. These conjoined-twins are the original Siamese twins, from whom the name derives. Born at Maklong near Bankok in Siam in about May 1811, of Chinese extraction; they were taken to America and then England in 1829, where they were exhibited causing great excitement. They were placed under the medical charge of GB Bolton, MRCS, who made extensive observations along with others at the time. After visiting the principal cities in Europe they returned to America to settle as farmers in North Carolina, adopting the name of Bunker and marrying two sisters who bore each of them many healthy children. In 1869 they made another tour through Europe and took advice from eminent surgeons of Britain and France on the feasibility of being separated, with no ultimate conclusion. After having returned to their dual families (which they kept in separate houses) Chang developed bronchitis, which led to their death in mid-January 1874 They are shown indulging in an English diet. One is drinking liquor, and is thin due to over-reliance on alcohol. The other tucks into a leg of lamb and is obese. Created 19 December 1829. Human. Abnormalities. Conjoined twins. Overweight persons. Alcoholics. England. Chang Bunker (1811–1874). Eng Bunker (1811–1874). Contributors: William Heath (1795–1840). Work ID: h999ftfe. |
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| Creator | see caption |
| Artwork medium | etching, with watercolour |
| Credit | Wellcome Collection |
| Terms of use | Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) |
| Search stock images by keyword | Chang and Eng the Siamese twins eating drinking excess Chang Caricatures Etchings William Heath |
| Stock image ref | Size | Views |
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| YW011223V | 3,200 x 2,210 pixels | 632 |
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