The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-21
ANOTHER SNAKE.
4 Reptile mt Home in II Young Lady's Stom-
ach--It Comes Up Into Her Throat.
From the Nashville Bsnnerl


From the Nashville Banner
There IS Il young lady living within mil,
and a quarter Of Christiana, who is afflicted rs
| slngularly as was the celebrated Miss God
sey the sleeping Beauty" For four years
past she has been suffering with violent faint
| Ing spells that come on periodically, and art
produced by the strangling caused by some
| KIND of reptile which comes up into her
throat. She is ChOked to such an extent that
her muscles become rigid, her cXtremitles
cold, the pupils OF her eyes dllated, and the
skin breaks on her hands and face, and she
is, in all other particulars, thoroughly con-
vulsed She is only relieved by the reptile
itself being, as 1t is thought, partially chok-
ed. Withdrawing itself into the stomach
The reptile has at previous times been seen
by different persons. On one occasion a
Methodist preacher was visiting at the home
of her parents, when she was seized with one
of the usual attacks, and the parasilical OBJ.
icct even came out OF her mouth and was
rrasped by the minister. Being of very
supcrstitiOus turn of mind she had conceived
the idea that its death was her DEATH and re
fused to have it removed, although that could
at that time have been easily accomplished
The minister avOwed that the reptile felt as
cold and Clammy as any other snake but that
ii offered no particular resistance when he
clutched it with his hand When it made its
appearance outside the mouth it curled its
head rather under the chin, but when loose
went Immediately down the young ladys
throat again. 1t frequently comes up into the
mouth, and the young lady says that when
ever it does SO it appears to HEX the roof of
her mouth with lis hOrrlDle tongue, and then
rccCdcs again.
A ncighboring physician has been attend
ING her during the period of her indisposi.
ton, and has been treating her for tapeworm,
believing that to be the true malady. The
symptoms are, however, entirely different
from those produced by tape-worm. The
girl still continues robust instead of being
emaciaed, and the appetite, instead of being
ravenous, is tickle, ut times scarcely taking
any food, while at other times she has very
good appetite. The strongest tape-worm rem
edies were used, but without any effect what
ever, and her physician, thinking the case
hopeless, gave ii 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 to be seen. The |
first step to be taken was to disabuse her
mind of the superstitlOnS that had taken pos
session of it in regard to her atfiction. She |
las consented at last to allow the monster to
De removed, if possible, and DESTROYED, as she |
II.
The physicians IN attendance are anXiously |
waiting an opportunity to effect a removal, |
md are keeping constant watch for the APP
,earance OF the reptile.
Alcohol has already been prepared for its
eGepton, so that, when it shall be dis
placed, so strange a phenomenon may be
preserved
The reptile, 50 far as has been ascertained,
5 about half an inch in diameter, of dark
oor with sort of hairy coating, but no one
S capable ofjudging Of its length. 1t has
ever been SO Glossy scrutinized by any one
5 to tell whether it has eyes, but that, we be
eve is hardly possible All that is yet
nown of it is th& it frequently comes up
ntO the mouth, choking the girl and throw
lg her into terrible commissions. 1t is at
acting universal attention about Christiana,
nd all the more so because her life has been
erlously threatened by the peculiar move
lents of the reptile