The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-03-14
- 81 THE BRATN.
Two Reporters AFFLICTED wish Worms,
and two Doctors Troubled
With ldlecg.

The Courier and Denaokrot of Sat
urday, each contain lengthy articles
describing the case Of a negro woman
who had living. snake in her stom-
ach, aud accordingly large numbers
principally colorej people. gathered
at the old Lewis mansion, on the hill
opposite the Criminal Court Room,
on Saturday to see the curiosity.
Ten cents admission fee was
charged, and the sensation brought
the poor woman little money, if il
brought nothing else.
From all that can be learned of the
case, the woman has been afflicted
with pains In the gastric region and
violent spasmodic action of the ab-
dominal muscles for about six years,
but more especially for the last three
years and half, during which time
she has suffered greatly at times, and
having consulted some superstitious
quacks, they told her there was a
make in her stomach.
She came to Evansville several days
ago for treatment, and appears to have
been attended by a man named Brown
who calls himself an Indian Doctor, y
says he is the celebrated Colonel
Brown Of the Texas Rangers, and is,
also, probably, a relation of the dis
tinguished Done Brown, Esq, and a
doctor Walker" a colored man.
This small constellation of medical
talent disagreed as to how the 'snaik
should be taken away. Brown insist
ing it should be cut out, while Walk
er wanted to use "chawm" to charm
it out.
In this dilemma Brown called on
nearly all the regular physicians in
town to sustain his decision, and on
Saturday he hustled about inviting
the doctors to bring their knives
and come at 2 O'Clock P. NJ, to cut
the snake out.
The expression on poor Browns
face was amusing. Stupidity, it's
natural expression, was varied on
this important occasion. by look of
the most profound establishment,
mixed with eonsidera BILE self-import-
ance and confidence that the consult
alton of the doctors would sustain
him. Why" said he. 81 have
tuck outEmore'n four hundred snakes
from people in Evansville"
About 2 o'clock, dozen physicians,
lawyers and others were admitted to
where the woman lay, and they pro-
ceeded to make an examination.
The woman, who does not know
her own age, appears to be about
thirty to thirty years old, nearly
a full blooded negro, will weigh nearly
one hundred and sixty pounds and is
about five feet two inches in height.
From this it will be seen that she is
in good condition, and to this condi-
ton is attributable the belt or snake
which is described as passing around
the body, Said 'DsfE 'DeIrg fold OF fat
that is perceptible only when the
woman sits up and disappears again
when the muscles are expanded by
lying down.
The involuntary action of the alb
dominal muscles is, by the medical
fraternity, attributed to hysteria
pressure on the abdomen evidently
causing much pain, leads some to the
opinion that there is a rheumatic
affection of the bowels. But there
is not the slightest evidence to the
mind of any sane person that there is
or ever was a snake or any other liv-
ing reptile IN the woman's stomach.
Some of the physicians present asked
Doctor Walker" if he had no
charm to operate on the serpent .
to which he replied that he had seen
"pow'ful heap O. cases, but this
yere one beats me, shore"
Inns case Is similar 10 that at An
namossa, Iowa, a year or two ago,
where a white woman believed she
had a lizard in her stomach, and
was fed on salt food for a week, and
all drink withheld until she nearly
died under the treatment. After sew
eral months the woman died Of pull
monary consumption, and the doctors
who had been treating her removed
to another climate. After publishing
this wonderful snake story ia both its
editions, German and English. under
staring head lines, the Denaokrat Of
Sunday morning ridicules those who
believed its word of Saturday, and
went to see the wonder.