, 1874-02-15
ANCIENT SNAKE.STORY,
A Reptile Mt Rome in q Young Lady's
Stotnuch-It Comes Up into 11er

N
sto1nuch-It Comes Up into 1aer
Thronts
From tho Nashville {T<,.n.) Banner,
There is young lady living within mile and
q quarter Of ChEistana, who ia afflicted as singu-
larry a. was the celebrated Miss Godsey, tho
"8leeping beauty" For four years past she
has been suffering with violent fainting spells,
that come On periodically, and are produced by
the strauging caused by some kind OF reptile
which comes up in her throat. She is choked to
such an extent that her muscles become rigid,
her extremities cold, the pupils OF her eyes
jilated and the skin breaks on her hands and
face and she is, in al other particulars, through
ly convulsed. She is only relieved BY the reptile
itself being az it is thought, partially choked,
withdrawing itself into the stomach.
The reptile bas at previous times been seen
by different persons. On one occasion o
Methodist preacher was visiting at the home
Of her parents, when che was seized with ono
OF the usual attacks, and the parisitica1 object
even come out Of her mouth and was grasped By
the minister. Being Of 3 very supelstitions
turn Of mind, she had conceived the idea that
it's death was her death, and refused to have it
removed, although that could ut that TINA have
been easily accomplished The minister
avowed that the reptile felt as cold and clammy
as any other snake, but that it offered no par
ticular resistance when he clutched it With bis
hand. When it made its appearance outaide
the mouth it curled its head rather under the
chin, but when let loose went Immediately down
bAe young 1auy LnloAt aSa1u' IL frequently
comes up into the mouth, and the young lady
says that whenever it does SO it appears to lick
the roof Of her mouth with it's horrible tongue,
aud then 1ecedes again.
A neighboring physician has been attending
her during the period Of her indisposition, and
has been treating her for tape-worms, believing
that to be tho true melady. The symptoms are,
however, cutirely different from those produced
by tape worm. The girl still continues robust
instead Of being emaciated, and the appetite,
instead OF being Tayenous, is tickle, at times
scarcely taking any food, while at other times
she has very good appetite The strongest
tape-worm remedies were used, but without any
effect whatever, ind her physician, thinking the
case hopeless, gave it up short time ago, when
two others we're called in, who a1e us1Dg every
means in their power to effect a cure, with what
result remains to be seen, The first step to be
taken WAS to disabuse her mind Of the supersti-
tions that had taken possession Of it in re-
gard to her at1iiction. She has consented at last
to allow the monster TO be removed II possible
and destroyed, as abe is NOW convinced her life
depends upon it. The physicians in attendance
are anxiously awaiting an opportunity to affect
q removal, and are keeping constant watch for
the appearance OF the reptile.
Alcohol has already been prepared for its re-
ception, so that, when it shall be displaced, 30
strange phenomenon may be preserved
The reptile, 80 far as has been ascertained, is
about half an inch in diameter, OF a dark color
with q sort OF hairy coating but no one ia capa-
bic OF judging OF its length. It has never been
80 closely scrutinized by any one az to tell
weather it has eyes, but that, we believe,
is hardly possible Ali that is yet known Of it is
that it frequently comes up into the mouth,
choaking the girl and throwing her into terrible
commissions. It is attracting universal attention
shout Christians and all the more so because
her life has been seriously tbreatened b1 the
peculiar movements OF the reptile.