The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1866-06-07
Miseeltatl,t,
A Singular Case--A Living Crea-
ture of UnusualS Size jim a W0man's
Stomach for Six Years.

ture OF U nuSual Size In a W0man'S S
Stomach for Six Years,
In the village Of Lancaster, Erie Co.,
there is a case of peculiar interest, not
only to medical men, but to the gener-
al reader. There resides there Mrs.
d., German woman, who has former
ly enjoyed good health, but who has
latterly been afflicted with singular and
terrible symptoms. Her complaint
manifests itself in the form Of parox-
ysms, which commence in her inability
to swallow food, and which, after a day
or two, are succeeded by severe con
vulsions, during which she appears as
if being choaked, her breath being at
the same time suspended and her coun-
tenance assuming livid color, as In
ordinary strangulations. Her consult
ing physician, Doctor B, is generally
summoned when the ssfits,' as the
friends and neighbors term the parox-
ysms, appear unusually dangerous, and
he generally succeeds in quieting his
patient with opiates and other sooth-
ing remedies. Six years ago the pa
tient was of good ordinary figure and
healthy appearance: now she is bloat-
ed and helpless in form, her skin is Of
a tallow-like, codaverous hue, and her
countenance wears sunken, pinched
and anxious expression. These NOR
bid symptoms have for the past few
months rapidly increased, each attack
growing more violent and distressing,
and threatening to terminate the wo-
mans miserable existance.
She believes there is snake in her
stomach, and that her horrible malady
is entirely owing to the presence and
growth of the reptile there. The move
ments Of this creature during the peri
ods of disturbance, and when it is de-
prived of food, (if her theory be a true
one), are plainly discernible, even
through the patients clothing, and are
often so violent and prolonged as to
produce discoloratiOn of the skin over
the region Of the stomach, as If from
blows.
1t is also the opinion of her physi-
clan that living creature of some sort,
most probably snake, has taken up
it's residence in the stomach of his pa
tient.
He has had some experience in that
direction. He served two years in the
army in the late war, as surgeon in a
New York regiment, and while station
ed in Southern State, he, with anoth-
er army surgeon, was called by resi-
dent physician to assist in relieving a
man of a snake that had got into his
stomach. The mans symptoms were
almost precisely like those of Doctor
BIS patient in Lancaster. The man
was kept from food until the snake be-
game very hungry, when it was tempt
ed from it's living lair by the smell of
savory viands. It's head was seized by
the doctor, aad it's ugly length drawn
forth. It was more than a yard long,
and must have occupied the entire cav
ity of the mans stomach.
DR.. B. thinks his patient can be re
ieved of the unwelcome tenant Of her
stomach by the same method, but she
instinctively and naturally shrinks from
the trial. It is becoming daily more
evident that she can not survive unless
something is done to remove the loath-
some creature. 1t will either strangle
her in her attempts to pass up the
esophagus, or from the enlarged size
and increased strength, break through
the coats of the stomach, in some of
it's struggles for freedom.
The case is painful as well as an
interesting one, and elicits the sympa-
thy 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 ac-
complished.-Cor. Rochester " ~
Express.