The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-02-20
A Reptile AT Home in a Young Lady's
Stomach.


The Nashville Banner says There i a
young lady living within amilc and aquar-
ter of thrlstiana. who Il afflicted n sngll-
larry n was the celebrated Miss Godscy.
the sleeping Beauty For four years
past She has been suffering with violent
iAinting spells, that come ON periodically.
and are produced by the stIangling caused
by some kind of reptile which comes up
into her throat. She is chokcd 10 such an
extent that her muscles become rigid, her
eNtrcmities cold, the pupils OF her eyes di-
lated, and the skin breaks on her hands
and face, and she is, in all other particu-
lars. thoroughly convulscd She Is only
relieved by the reptile Itself being. as il +
thought, partially choked, Withdrawing IL
self into the stomach.
The reptile has at previous times been
seen by different persons. ON one occa-
sion Methodist preacher was visiting al
the home of her parents, when she was
seized with one of the usual attacks, and
the parasitical object even came ont OF her
mouth and was grlsped by The minister.
Being of very supcrstitiOus turn of mind
She had conceived the idea that its death
was her death, and refused 70 have IL IT.
moved, although that could al that time
have been easily accomplished. The min
lister avowcd that the reptih felt as cold
and clammy as any other snake. but that
it offered no particular resistance when he
clutched il with his hand. When II made
its appearance outside the mouth it curled
its head rather under the chin, but when
loose went Immediately down the young
lady's throat again. 1t frequently comes
up into the mouth, and the young lady
saws that whenever il does so il appears 10
lick the roof OF her mouth with it, horrible
tongue, and then recedes again.
a neighboring physician has been at
tending her during the period of her inds-
position. and has been treating her for
tape-worm. believing that 10 be- the true
malady. The symptoms are, however. en-
tirely different from those produced by
tape-worm. The girl still continues ro-
bust instead OF being emaciatcd. and the
appetite. instead of being ravcnous. is
tickle. at times scarcely taking any food.
while at Other times she has "A very good
appetite. The strongest tape-worm RENE
dies We're used, but without any effect
whatever. and her physician, thinking the
ease hopeless. gave il up short time ago.
when TWO others were called IN. who are
using every means in their power to effect
a cure, with what result remains 10 be
seen. The first step 10 be taken was 10
disabuse her mind OF the superstitons that
had taken possession OF il in regard to her
aiiliction. She has consented al last To al
low the monster To be removed. If posi-
Bile. and destroyed as She j. now con-
WINGED her life depends uponit. The ply
sicians in attendance are anXiously await
ing an opportunity to effect removal,
and are keeping constant watch for the APP
pearance of the reptile.
Alcohol has already been prepared for
it, reception, so that, when it shall be- dis
placed. so strange a phenomenon may be
preserved.
The reptile. so far a has been ascer-
tanned. is about half an inch ia diameter.
of "A dark color. with sort of hairy coat
ing. but no one j. capable of judging OF it,
length. 1t has never been 80 closely scru-
tiniZcd by any one a 10 tell whether il has
eyes, but. that. we believe j. hardly posi-
bic. All that is yet known OF it j. that il
frequently comes up into the mouth. chok-
ing the girl and throwing her into terrible
commissions. II is attracting universal at
tention about Christiana. and all tho more
so because her life has been seriously
threatened by the peculiar movements of
the reptile.