Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-04-24

tacit credence, by publication, except
on so good authority as the paper from
which we copy it.
Last Saturday, says the New York
Sun, we were informed of singular
operation performed OH a sailor in Es-
sex street the day previous by DR..
Mott OF this city, viz: extracting a
black snake from the mans stomach
We called on a gentleman who was
present at the time; from whom we
learned the following particulars which
may be depended on as facts. The
mans name is Frederick Williams,
and has boarded in Essex street for
the last three months. About eighteen
months since, while in Jamaica, be
was one day drinking water from
spring, at the bottom of which he OBJ.
served several small hair snakes ofthe
length of one or two inches---and from
kind of tickling in his throat at the
time, he concluded that he must have
swallowed one of them. He immedi.
ately applied TO a physician, who i'd
ministered TO him an emetic---and he
borrowed no more trouble about it.
In about six months he began to feel as
he expressed it himself) ga kind of
crawling in his stomach"--and in u
few days more the lower part, or pit of
his stomach began to project out. His
appetite became so exceedingly keen
that he was forced to eat heartily for
four or FIVE times day. He con-
tinued in this state for several weeks,
when the occurrence at the spring i'll
Jamaica came in his mind, accompa.
MED with the horrible conviction that
he was carrying in his stomach
loathsome reptile. The protuberance
on his chest continued to increase in
size--and he was frequently choked
for breath by the reptile attempting to
crawl out of his throat, which sensa.
ton, at length threw the miserable
man into convulsive fits. The learned
DR.. above, was called, and the case
described to him. After examining the
projection on the mans body he pro-
nounced the snake to be the cause, and
was of the opinion that it could be
taken out by an incision in the sto-
mach, without any danger of the mans
! life. But Williams could not be pre-
vailed on to submit to this operation.
A plan was then hit upon to pull the
snake from the mouth. He partook Of
no food for two or three days, and the
movements of the snake were con-
stantly watched by the physician.
Towards night of the third day, the
almost distracted man informed the
physician and his friends in attendance
that, from the feeling in his stomach
and throat, he judged the snake was
attempting to crawl out. He immedi-
ately went into a convulsive fit, was
placed on bed, and his mouth pried
open. A bowl of warm milk was then
put near the mouth. The face of tho
insensible man assumed dark and
CHASTITY appearance--and the snake
forced his head from his mouth and
tasted of the milk. The bowl was
gently drawn away and the snake as
gently crawled towards it. The friend
who stood by, now seized the reptile
with his hand and suddenly drew il
from its den, in which it had grown to
its present almost incredible size. II
was Immediately killed, and we under
stand has been preserved by the doctor
as wonderful curiosity. 1t measured
four feet and five inches in lengths
nearly of bgness from head to tail,
and is of jet black color. Williams
was with difficulty restored, and was
removed to the hospital, where he is
now doing well. We hope the case Of
this man may serve as warning TO
any person who may have occasion to
slake his thirst from brooks and springs
of marshy ground. A recent London
Medical work gives an account of a
man suffering in this manner from hav-
ling a live Lizard in bis stomach for
more than two years--and who at
length died, in consequence of the con-
vulsiye fits into which he was thrown
by the reptile attempting to crawl out
Of his throat.
Small cause and great eBect.-When,
Louis VII, to obey the injunctions Of
his bishop, cropped his hair and shaw
ed his beard, Eleanor, his consort,
found him with this unsual appearance,
very ridiculus, and soon very contempt
ible. She revenged herself as she tho't
proper, and the poor shaved king OBJ
tanned divorce. She then married
the count of Anjou, afterward Henry
| II, of England. She had for her mar
riage dover the rich provinces of Poi
tou and Guienne; and this was the orr
gin of those wars which for three hum
bred years ravaged France, and cost
the French millions of men. All which
probably had never occurred, had
Louis VII not been so rash as to crop
his head, and shave his beard, by which
4 Al