Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-06-09
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ANATOMICAL CURIosITIEs.

Ramo Samme, an East-Indian juggler,
has excited considerable curiosity ia this
city, by sualiooimg stUord, twenty one
inches in length. Although it is perfect
lyfeasi5le, from the anatomical structure
ofthe pharynx. and straight course of the
esophagus in the posterior mediastinum,
leading into the stomach, it must neces-
sarily be dangerous operation, which
none will ever submit to, who have anx-
ieties beyond the influence of money.
The blade which he introduces, is of pol
ished iron, quite thin, but one inch in
width, and of equal diameter through its
whole length. After taking off his era
vat, he elevates the chin, by carrying the
head as far back between the shoulders
as possible, and then introduces the
sword, which does not enter gradually,
as we had been led to suppose, but on
the contrary, falls suddenly, till the hiIt
strikes against his mouth. Ia this condi-
tion, the point can be distinctly felt in
the fnndus of the stomach, just below the
ribs of the left side. 1t is Withdrawn
with great precision, and slowly, but its
extraction is usually followed by slight
tit of coughing, from the irritation in the
fauces. During this interesting, though
chilling exhibition, his position is unal-
tered. as the slightest movement of the
head would act upon the blade like lev
er, in such manner as to produce the
most alarming consequences to the tho
racic viscera. The recent invention OF
an instrument for pumping out the con-
tents of the stomach, in cases of great
necessity, is wholly free from the haz-
ards mentioned in the case of Samme,
because the pipe is SO flexible, that il
adjusts itself to the shape of the parts
without the possibility Of doing any inju.
ry whatever.
By this explanation, that will be un
derstood to be an operation perfectly
consistent with human anatomy, and per
fectly easy, (though not very agreeable
either to the performer, or TO those who
witness it, which is generally consider
ed as wonderful and almost miraculous
The same, however, cannot be said O.
all the tricks performed by jugglers
One Of these, who called himself Foulet
and exhibited on the boulevard du Tenn
pie, at Paris, passed small peas and lead
en- shot into his nose and mouth, and tool
them out at his ears and eyes ; he alst
passed them into his ears and eyes, ant
took them cut of his mouth. This pro
cess was varied in many different WAYS
and so entirely inconsistent were all o
them with the anatomical structure o
the parts, thattwo gentlemen from Bos
ton, who were present at the exhibition
were induced to wait till the crowd hat
dispersed, in the hope of getting at hi
secret. On assuring him that they wer.
influenced by no other motive than curl
osity, that they had 10 wish or intention
TO take up his profession, that !hey wer,
strangers, and about to leave the coun
try Immediately, and last, though by n,
means the least influential argument, b,
giving him napoleon, he showed sew
eral hstulous passages, which he had pro
cured a surgeon TO make from one of tn,
above mentioned organs to the other
These artificial passages were kept o
pen by passing occasionally through
them small leaden cylinders and tn,
shot and small peas were propelled b.
the action of the muscles of the tongu,
and face, over which he had acquired
peculiar and habitual power. That sucI
a power may be acquired, will appea
evident to any one who has witnesse,
the extravagant exhibitions of rope-dan
GERS, tumblers and clowns. 1t is also thu
acquisition of similar power over tn,
muscles of the extremities, which ena
bles Ramo Samme to throw and catcI
the balls, with so much agility and pre-
cision.-BoSton Med. Intel.