The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-04-07
Extraordinary Case.

northern suburbs, and although portion of
the narration may appear too marvellous !
to he readily credited, vet there is no doubt
OF the fact Of a living snake having existed
IN the patients stomach for number OF
years. and that medical means have been
recently adopted 10 eject the reptile from us
present quarters :-PhiId. Messenger.
Our readers will probably rceolleci that some
weeks since, We gave an account oil an eAuaordl-
nary case Ia Caowhlll street IN tins city, OF Nv
Ing snake existing IN the stomach OF man when
about fifteen years OF age, he stopped 10 drunk al
a spring IN field, and while drinking, tell sen
satlOn resembling that produced by solid SUB
stance gliding down his throat. Ii caused no pain
or untasiness at the time, and he supposed II 10
be BIZ OF grass some other harmless substance
About SIX weeks afterwards, lac felt singular
sensation in the stomach resembling The move.
menis of living animal, and sometimes attended
with unpleasant irritation or utIllation especially
iust before meals, and when he had been long
lime without food Immediately, and tor several
hours after iull meal. all unpitaant sensations
subsidized These symptoms continued TO increase
TIL the thirty fifth year OF the patient which he
has recently Completed he suffered almost con-
slant uneasness, and sometimes uxerucaiing pain
His appetite was very irregular, beng sometimes
so small tba, he would not consume more than an
ounce OF solid food daily Tor week; and other
tmes ii was 50 voTaoious, that be would eat hive
pounds OF beef daily tor month. One remarkable
symptom was that during these periods OF absteni-
BUSINESS be gained flesh a, the rate Of ten pounds
weekly, and during the periods OF soracity, ne o~t
i in still greater degree, and vas sometimes eA-
Ceccingl, emacIaied. Nhilc gaining flesh under
his loss Of appeli,r, his pulse irregular, ne
digestive Or aas much dersnged, hrs sleep cIs-
lutbed aud sometimes entirely suspended Tor Tort
eight hours lie suffered severely from pain ia
tie oc,ipital region Of the head, II the shoulder
blades, he thumb OF the ieit hand, aud the great
tue o. the night foot. Ills somplexun Was ni a ca.
daytrous paieness, and he vas subject uigh,iy,
10 yroiuse collie -.tlyc swests. Bl, While 4nsl"g
.lesn under y0f4y Ious appetite, al lDU iuucinhs
were performed vito regularity, Lis pulse Vas
regular. us sleep sound, and his complexion Nss
Of healthy aDe, incllnirg To u fvrid. Ia The
mean time, the ibdomen increased greatly N sIEy,
llt i motion Ike that o. "a, - bag, sas ap-
glreat to the hand when u,d upon the region Of
tie stomach Bot be was q al times SUBJECT 70
iaiuusg Its OF pccu lar sind. Sometimes be
dropped doRH suCGcnly without sense o. uiot.ou.
AZ other tines NJ nearly "a, but recovered 'mmt.
cnt.ly, though always attcudsd WIh pfosuaton
Of siren. b tor sore h5ufs aiicrAafd-. The sen.
sa.oa >, 4 scribfd Il, wa that Of violent bio~
silhia The stomach AID very much like an eitc
7 trlc SHOCK excepting N bang moFe local
{ Sueh extraordinary sympious denoted some eI.
irsof4 cary csu-y OF ahil blrc,. Tie mas b,eg
80 len wear. under re car, d hs ta".i'Y pt, y.
,i4a. and had besn 81. leettt 10 various NOES Of
] treatment without sry ataleiuent Of tbese symp-
tuu@ lie Mc aken the rast .ciiye omslic., aad
\ lie tuust drastic cA,LarNcs. without auy good ci.
feet Waen stttrai a BON was hIgh, b, sas bed
cop5usiy, sometimes ls~ia. sttteen ounces cauy
" ltfee days surl ,sStjy. y atn q ssf ioS, ibe
most powerful riiMa.aats we're administered Cpl
IN. etner, brady aafa, beng sometimes exhibit
20, each Ia so.hr u' q1antiues 10 klil man d
ottia4fy healGh and >stsnl.h. All tie Uhte b,
insisted that sous Auug snlinal vas % as ,iu-
mach and related &c lnc.o,ns at the spung, aEo
his sIrscqucnt sen.a.l9us.
\ FL physician Aas iaofedolous, Saying that h
bad read Vi such lh.re.. but 80 not CONSIDER sny
case vel authenticated, Or believe thu, any aaun4
could resist the solvent p9aer Of the ga.tlr Hpd'
10 TIC Lauau stomach TIE Patent, hpaiag ayers
unpleasant syn pioa Increasing. fesolyes u seas
additional q, AID consultation eAsogdefes. Eve
Of our mort sHiuen, physicians attended, ard snet
minute examination, came 10 the Conclusion thai
~. Conjecture 1! patient vas probable 'ot
tnoggh c..ner u them had ever witnessed a cas-
D. iyiny sasuain tie human stomach. y,t stv
.fll ca.,s acre recorded which see cpH~Ilercs
authcnu- They also ssid tina, CON psfs,Ise anat
ntny furnished anaiogIes tor ininG froZs, toad.
aGd ashes lsd baen found in the siomtchso snakes
mlny hours after they had been sNai0Ned, an,
that tbs proved the po.ef Of ~ vital principle II
resisting, 10 soane extent, she solvent posef Of u,
gsslrc daIda.
Having assumed this hypothesis as probable
Il - esxt proceeded 10 act upon H. Ihc} reject
sd 81 medicines, very properly concluding that
lhe vital principle coale resi. the soycn, po~ef
the .iouiarh. il would resist tie ac,on Of any .ub
stances which the stomach was abe 10 bear. co
concluding also Thai AS gsossriu medicines had a
ready failed, il was not philosophical 10 repeat then
They ordered cu,ife abstinence from al food
and iccofdngT, The patient took none ior five day
During his period, the PAIN IN the stomach was ei
cfgrlIilg aud The motion violent, resembling tina
OF a spiral revolution of rope upon 4 cylinder
Tie pain becoming ton intense To bear, 'nr the pa
tent rayIug IN deiilum, the physicians sug
gested thst opium might act upor the nerves q
the stomach without affecting the animal, !! !
we're one, and that 10 search Of food Il might fore
It's way through the usophsgus. THIS Was tris,
and wilh success The patient being thrown into
disturbed sleep, while the motion 10 the stomach
increased 10 violence. lie was then held IN a re
euuben, position. with the fses downward. and III
body inclined TO angle OF forty FIVE degrees, III
head being lowest In shout ten minutes, H.
I, canse Of the difficulty was manifest. A snake, q
: dark brown color snd lsrgs size, protruded "a
q eight niche from the ufauth. with lis eyes brigt
: aud giafing wlth every sslation Of rage. On
Of the ply hclans Immediately and Il by The necl
4 with the intention Of drawing II oBk but suddeNl
fell lat upon the floor, without sense s mstien,
G if struck by lightning Like The conHss eel Il
!. torpedo, and several other species Of marine an
!. mails, the reptile electro, aud thus we're u