Born Together The Story of Conjoined Twins

Born Together The Story of Conjoined Twins is a book by Doctor Michael L. Cox.

In his book Dr Cox takes a detailed and very sensitive look at this very difficult subject.

He looks at the ethics of the birth of conjoined twins. For example could it ever be justified to sacrifice the life of one twin so that the other could live?

Whilst he was an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at the George Elliot Hospital in Nuneaton, two sets of  were born under his care, which stimulated his interest in this field of medicine, resulting in this very fascinating and eminently readable book.

Dr Cox looks at cases that are still a part of common culture like Change and Eng Bunker.

There are other cases that are less well-known which he draws attention to; Millie and Christine McKoy, born in North Carolina in 1851. Their story is a sad one, as they were born into slavery and were sold as circus exhibits. However, a trip to England was used as an opportunity to reunite them with their mother.

Then there is the case of Sardinia's Ritta and Christina Parodi who were born in Marcy 1829. 

They had double upper bodies, but only one lower body. Sadly they died at eight months of age.

Other cases covered include Myrtle Corbin of Tennessee, who had one upper body and two lower bodies, which was the reason why Myrtle had only one name, unlike most other conjoined twins.

After earning $450 a week, a phenomenal sum of money in the 19th century, she married a Doctor Clinton Bicknell when she was 19.

Readers will learn about Mina and Minnie Finley (a confusing choice of names for conjoined twins one  might think) there was Laloo the India boy, tragically killed in a train crash, Jean Libbera of Rome, the Tocci brothers, Rosa and Josefa Blazek, Daisy and Violet Hilton of England, born in 1908, Simplicio and Lucio Dodiop of the Philippines, also born in 1908, Mary and Margaret Gibb born in Massachusetts in 1912.

Amongst other stories is the heart-breaking case of Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova, born in 1950's Moscow. It has to be said that they were not treated particularly well by the Communist government.

There are a number of modern cases in many of which Dr Cox discusses the medical procedures employed.

He also makes mention of a very rare case of conjoined triplets in Italy in 1831, during which the Doctor decided to amputate two of the heads during the birth. 

Dr Cox covers the known causes of conjoined twins, but in a way that is very readable.

He also mentions Ambrose Pare, the chief surgeon to Charles IX and Henri III and William Smellie (1697 to 1762 who, in his book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery covered what he described as "twins and monsters."

Even astrology has been mentioned as a factor, at least by Leslie Fiedler.

There have also been epidemics of conjoined twin births, possibly resulting from environmental factors, genetic factors or random chance.

There are also historical conjoined twins such as Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst who were born in 1100 in the Kentish village of Biddenden. The plague twins of Kingston Upon Hull, the Scottish brothers of the 1500s, the girls of Worms in Germany on 1495, etc.

He also covers fictional accounts of conjoined twins from the writings of Mark Twain, Brian Aldis, Irvine Walsh, Alexandre Dumas. He also covers dramas, radio, stage, TV and cinema, including The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy.

This book is a fascinating read for the layman, the medical student and nurses and doctors who might have to help parents cope with a conjoined birth.

It is published by The Book Guild at £10.99.