Separating Siamese twins surgically

Lynn Poole discusses abnormally conjoined twins and shows a poster of the Biddenden Maids of England and a photo of Chang and Eng Bunker, Siamese twins. Dr. Francis Schwentker of Johns Hopkins Medical School, explains the odds of having twins, triplets, and quadruplets and the heredity factor of twinning. Two pairs of twin nurses at the Johns Hopkins Hospital exemplify the difference between identical and fraternal twins. Using charts, Dr. Schwentker explains how conjoined twins occur when the germplasm fails to cleave, and he shows examples of posterior, anterior, lateral, and cranial connections. Dr. A. Earl Walker, Director of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, describes the December 17, 1952 surgical separation of the Brodie twins in Chicago. Using a diagram, X-rays, and a medical model, Dr. Walker offers a general explanation of the procedure and considerations in separating these boys joined at the top of the head. The stronger twin was given the venus sinus, which they shared, and a tantalum plate was used to cover the exposed brain. Both twins were still alive at the close of this program.