The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-05-26
a Singular Case-A Living Creature
of Unusual Size IN a Woman's Stom-
ach for Six Years.


The Rochester, New York Express SAYS
In the village Of Lancaster, Erie county, there
is a case Of peculiar interest, not only to
medical men, but to the general reader.
There resides there a Mrs D., German wo-
man, who formerly enjoyed good health, but
who has latterly been afflicted with singular
and terrible symptoms. Her complaint mani
tests itself in the form Of paroxysms, which
commence in her inability to swallow food
and which, after day or two, are succeeded
by severe commissions, during which she ap-
pears as if choked, her breath being at the
same time suspended, and her cOuntenance
assuming livId color, in ordinary stran-
gulations. Her consulting physician, Doc
tor b., Is generally summoned when the 4" fits, -
as the friends and neighbOrs term the paroz-
ysms, appear unusually dangerous, and he
generally succeeds In quieting his patient
with Opiates and other soothing remedies.
Six years ago the patient was of good ordin-
ary figure and healthy appearance; now she
IS btoated and helpless in form, her skin Is
of a tallOw-like, cadaverous hue, and her
countenance wears a sunken, pinched and
anxious expression. These morbid symp-
toms have for the past few months rapidly
increased, each attack growing more violent
and distressing, and threatening to termin-
ate the wOman's miserable existence
She believes there is a snake in her sto1n.
ach, and that her terrible malady is entire
ly owing to the presence and growth Of the
rertile there The movements of this crea-
ture during the periods of disturbance, and
when it Is deprived Of food, Cf her theory
be the true one,) are plainly discernible,
even through the patients clothing, and are
often so violent and prolonged az to produce
discoloration Of the skin over the region of
the stomach, as if from blows.
1t is also the opinion of her physician
that a living creature Of some sort, most
probably a snake, has taken up its resi-
dence in the stomach of his patient
He has had some experience in that di-
rectioD. lie served two years in the army
/ in the late war, as surgeon in a New York
regiment, and while stationed in n Southern
State, he, with another army surgeon was,
called by a resident physician to assist in
relieving a man Of a snake that had got into
his stomach. This mans symptoms were
| almost precisely Ike those Of Doctor B. S
patient in Lancaster. The man was kept
from food until the snake became very hun
cry, when it was tempted from It's living
lair by the smell Of savory viands. It's head
was seized by the doctor, and its ugly
/ length drawn forth. It was more than a
yard long, and must have occupied the en-
tire cavity of the man g stomach.
DR. b. thinks his patient can be relieved
Of the unwelcome .enant of her stomach by
the same method, but she instinctly and
naturally shrinks from the trial. 1t Is be
coming daily more evident that she can not
survive unless something is done to remove
the lOaihsome creature. 1t viii either
strange her in her attempts to pass up the
esophaeus, or, from its enlarged size and in
creased strength, break through the coats Of
the stomach, in some Of It's struggles for
freedom.
The case is a painful as well as an inter-
esting one, and elicits the sympathy Of a
/ large circle Of acquaintances, who desire
that something may be done for the relief
Of their suffering friend, but know not how
it may be accomplished.