The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-28
A Reptile I'm - Lady's Stomach.
IT COMES UP INTO HER THROAT.

| There is young lady living within
a mile and d. luarteR Of Christiane, who
is afflicted as singularly as was the
celebrated Miss Godsoy, the "sleeping
Beauty." For four years past she has
been suffering with violent fainting
spells, that come on periodically, and
are produced by some kind Of reptile
which comes up into her throat. She
is 'choked to such an extent that her
muscles become rigid, her extremities
cold, the pupils Of her eyes dilated, and
the skin breaks on her hands and face,
and is in all other particulars, thorough
ly convulsed. She is only relieved by
tha reptile itself, being, it is thought,
partially choked, withdrawing itself into
the stomach.
The reptile has ut previous times
been seen by different porsons. On one
OCCASION a Methodi.t preacher was
visiting Mt the home of her parents,
when she was seized with one Of the
usual attacks, and the parisitical object
even came out of her mouth and " as
grasped by the minister. Being of a
very supcrstitious turn Of mind she had
conceived the iaea that its death was
her death, and refused to have it re-
moved, although that could at that
time have been easily accomplished.
The minister ayowcd that the reptile
felt as cold and clammy ~ any other
snake, but that it offered no particular
re sistance when he olutchcd it with his
hand. When it made its appearance
outside the mouth it curled its head
rather under the chin, but when e.
loose went Immediately down the young
lady's throht again It frequently
comes up into the mouth, aud the young
Lady says that whenever it does SO it
appears to lick tie roof of her mou tn
with its horrible tongue, and then re
codes again:
A neighboring physician las been
attending her during the period of her
indisposition, and has been treating her
for tap"-worm, believing that to be the
true malady. The symptoms are, how
ever, entirely ditferont from those pro.
ducea by tape-worm. The girl still
continues robust, instead of being ema-
ciated, and the appetite, instead of being
ravenous, is 6cklc, at times scarcely tax
ing any food, while ut other tim.s she
has ycryisood appetite. The strongest
tape W orn> remedies were used, but
without any effect whatever, AMI the
.physiciah, thinking tho case hopeless,
gave il up short time ago; when two
others were called in, who are using
every means in their power to effect
cure with what result remains to be seen.
The first step to be taken was to dis
abuse her miud of the supcrstitons that
had taken possession Of hor in regard to
her diecase. She has at last consented
to have tho monster removed, if prssblo,
and destroyed, Us she is now convinced
that her lie depends on it. The ply,
sicians in attendance are anxiously
awaiting an opportunity to effect re.
moval, an d are keeping constant watch
for the appearance Of the reptile.
| Alcohol has already been prepared for
the reception, so that, when it shall be
displaced, SO strange phenomenon may
be preserved.
The reptile, SO far as has been ascer
tanned, is about half an inch in diane.
ter, OF a dark color, with q sort OF hairy
coating, but no one is capable Of judg-
ing of its length. 1t has never been SO
closely scrntinized by any one as to tell
whether it has eyes, but that, we believe
is hardly possible. All that is yet
know OF it that it frequently comes up
into her mouth, choking the girl and
throwing her into terrible convul sionB
1t is attracting universal attention
about Christiana, aud all the more so,
because her life has been seriouely
threatened by the pee uliar movements of
| the reptile. Nashville Banner.