Agency through Otherness: Portraits of Performers in Circus Route Books, 1875-1925

Page transcript

CHANG & ENG.—Two youths born in the kingdom of Siam, whose bodies are, by a wonderful caprice of nature, united together as one, arrived in London on Thursday, Nov. 19th, and on Tuesday 24th, were submitted to the examination of the most eminent professors of Surgery and Medicine of the Metropolis, as well as
some other gentlemen of scientific and literary pursuits in order that through their report, (if favourable) the public may be assured that the projected exhibition of these remarkable and interesting youths is in no respect deceptive; and further that there is nothing whatever, offensive to delicacy in the said exhibition.

These Youths have passed their eighteenth year, are in possession of full health and extraordinary bodily strength; display all the faculties of the mind in their fullest extent; and seem in fact in every respect to enjoy a state of perfect happiness and contentment.

*** The Youths having been thus introduced to the British Public, were
visited on that day (among many others,) by the following distinguished persons, who testified their entire approbation of the exhibition, and obligingly favoured the Proprietors with the sanction of their names.
(Signed by)
HONs. LEIGH THOMAS, President of the Royal College of Surgeons.
[and 33 additional names]

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