The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-08-28

A correspondent in Coke county
sends US the following particulars Of
an extraordinary case of snake dis
ease, and an operation for its relief,
attended with the most happy re-
suits:
MURRAYsvILLE, COKE Co, Tenn,
| June 30th, 1874.
Ed. GAzETTE-A Mrs. Kennedy,
a woman of about forty, the wife Of
an Irish laborer living on French
Broad Street, has for several years
suffered greatly from i'll health. -
Her symptoms and complaints We're
singular she was afflicted with al
most constant pains SO that she could
seldom, or never rest at night. She
stated that she felt something run
ming up and down in the abdomen,
and that she frequently experienced
the creeping sensation which is call
ed irritabiIity. She had been in the
hospital here and had been treated
successfully for cancer Of the bow
els, worms, contracted hydalids and
other complaints, but found no re,
lief. AS her uneasipess and pains
continued, SO were the attempts to
relieve her, but without success -
Not long since DR.. Periam Gyles,
whose Office is on the corner Of Pur-
chase and Broad streets, was called
ed into requisition and took charge
of the case.
About a week ago, she became
subject to uncomfortable uneasiness,
and begged DIR. Gyles to perform
an operation for her relief. This he
was reluctant to do, thinking it
would hazard her life, without suf-
ficiently certain prospect Of bring
ing relief to her to compensate for
her hazard. She declared that life
was burden; that she must die as
she was, and that speedily ; was
willing to die; death would be re-
lief; and that she might as well die
in efforts for relief as in any other
way. AT last DR.. Gyles yielded to
her opportunities and having first
been solemnly exonerated from
blame by the woman and her hus-
band, he consented to perform the
operation:
On Friday afternoon last, assisted
by VIM. Allen, of Sweetwater, he
proceeded to perform the operation.
He first made the incision abcft ten
inches long along the line of the alb
domen. He found tumor project.
ing largely, about 26 inches in d.
ameter, and of irregular form. He
opened it, and found therein two rat
tlesnakes, one 36 inches, and the
other 225 inches in length. One Of
the snrkes had FIVE rattles and the
other four and button. They had
yellow and black spots on them,
with white bellies. They were quite
lively, and would rattle and strike
with vengeance when disturbed. -
They were killed, and their skins
and rattles are now in the possession
Of Col. John Stephens, at the corner
of McNab street, of this town. They
woald not have been killed, but they
were so vicious fears were enter.
tanned that they would bite some
body. The tumor being removed,
Mrs. Kennedy was instantly reliev-
ed, and lie now doing well. The doc
tors call the snakes crotatMs hOvib@s.
Col. Stephens prizes their skins and
4 rattles as great curiosities. Too
much praise cannot be given to the
eminent medical men for the skill
and calmness they manifested
throughout the operation. Mrs.
Kennedy says she swallowed two
small, soft white eggs, that she
found several years ago, as she was
walking out in field near the
Warm Springs, N. c. Having just
come over from Ireland, she was not
acquainted with the bird eggs Of
America, and swallowed these eggs,
supposing them to be partridge
eggs.
Hoping the case will be interest.
ing to your readers,
i / am truly yours,
DIR. ELI JOHNSON.