Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-10-11
soxErHrse ExrRAoRpIxaRr.

resnectabie gentleman al GoyefnTS Isl
and 70 the editors OF the New-Y"rk Mer-
camille Advertiser:
About tn last at Aug. Dennis Shepard, a
Canadian, a conyi 1 at this post, called upon
me for assistance ne stated that he was in
eoa,tanl pain, and sick at the stomach. From
MS statement, [ conceived that his complaint
would be removed by an enet'c-i gave him
One the next lay he called again, observing,
that although he had taken the emetic, which
had oper ted freely upon the stomach, 1t gave
him no kui of relief; that he threw up every
,hins whio d he took which appeared black,
AMI 10 use his expression, tasted coppery.
/ told him there was something which must
Dr. removed, aud gave him more powerful
emaic he called rhe third dty, and ohser-
we'd that be found no relief and that his pu-
kiny continued the same--I observed to him
that had doubt whether he tooksny medi-
cine he assured the TO the cnntrary-l con-
fessed 10 him hat was at loss TO hnd out
the cause OF his complaint-he replied. am
ashamed to tell yon-Sir, says he, ! have
Swallowed a Jack KNIFE and forty-one cents
Think ing th,t he meant an imposition, being
a great scoandrel, / told him in plain language
. that did moi believe him--he offered proof,
AM said that he had swallowed dozen al
different tunes then enquired whe'he the
medicine had produced any effect upon the
bowels he said it had not. How loDgsince
you have had any discharge? tortnghtI
thought as did before Il observed, II he
hal told me The truth, hat in all probability
il wou d kill him and il it did, would sa-
tisfy myself after his desth-te replied that
be expected il would, ami that he had rather
die than continue in that situarion-l then be- !
gan 20 think that he told me the trutb--to |
confirm me in that opinion, one OF the officers
OF bis post told me he saw him swallow IL
OF the Cents at one time !; another person told |
M he saw bun swallow Jack knItt-tn |
short, he is famous for that kind of business ::
have given hin the name of Jack knife.
To return, attended strictly 10 bis case, |
gave him the most drastic doses, as cathartics; |
repeatedly made use Of other means highly |
siimui,ting. II was several days before
procured discharge from his bowels-pu- |
king sill continued. From his puking, and !
no discharge from the bowels, was inclined |
to the opinion that the knife lay trsnsyersely |
IN the stomach, and interrupted the passage |
into the bowels. As his stomach had been |
much relaxed by the medicines, was of OPT !
niors that by contracting the stomach by pow
eriul astringenls, might alter the position Of
the knife-this did not answer-l then con-
Guided 10 continue The cathartics and injec
tons-I examined The discharges, which |
were very dark and feti5. | continued the !
practice until the 29th Of September--ln the
the morning of that day he came to my quar-
tiers | looked at him, and observed to him
that he grew fat, and looked as well as any |
of the w.n, intending TO report him Ion po-
lie. duty. ! agsin began to suspect an impo-
siton--it will be recOIlected, ir the former
part of this case, that he had been ~ the ha.
Bit Of swallowing knives, all Of which, ex-
coping the las, be supposed had been dis
charsed--he says, sir, you would not believe
me abou the knife. aud handed me jack |
knif. and large pen knife, which he had
just discharged, Feeling an unusual sensa-
ton upon the rectum, be took an evidence
upon examining hem, lound that part OF the |
handle OF the jack knife. which is a bone,
was about hall destroyed, The knife little
corroded, and very black. The handle Of
the pe nknite was born, the riyets were partly |
destroyed, the horn warped, and had the APP
pearance OF being boiled. do not think OF
any thing material but what have stated
There Is no doubt Of the fact in my mind
no account Of the cents.
Govsrnsr's Island, IN. Y. Oct. 2, 1919.
p. S. have just seen Shepard hr says he
has still a little pain ia the stomach, but well
in other respects, and promises lot 10 sw al
low any more knives-thinks he should have
done we'll enough Vi he had not swallow ed
the cents.
Among the numerous new towns now e.
reciing in OUT extensive country, We observe
one to be called the ioTn Of Napoleon ST.
tusled on the branch OF Laus hery creek, IN
Ripley county, Indiana.
n