The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-09-29
A xsa With . Snake in His stomach.

The Suspension Bridge O.. "
Journal SAYS: Lieut.. Robert Crawford
Is nstive OF Hamilton, Ont, and is
about 40 years of age. lie has been
stopping of late at Clark's Hotel, in
Clinton, hoping to receive some benefit
from the pure air OF Niagara, and II WAS
there we saw him and heard his story.
Tie is a thin, spare man, and has been
reduced almost 70 a skeleton, he ayers,
by the presence OF his horrible con-
panion.
For fourteen years of his life Lieut..
Crawford was = resident of the Island
OF Cuba, and belonged 10 the Cuban
army, in which he rose from the ranks
20 a Lieutenancy, which position he was
compelled 90 resign on account Of his
falling health. About two and half
years since, be says, he first became
aware of the presence of the serpent IN
his stomach, the symptoms being sick
ness and crawling sensation in that or
gan. Then il Was he remembered that
about six months previous he had knelt
down and drank from a spring in the
vicinity of which he noticed peculiar
poisonous reptiles, some OF which were
ten inches long and as thick Is mans
wrist, while others were very minute.
His subsequent experience leaves no
doubt in hrs mind that he 1t that time
drank in small specimen of these hor-
nd creatures.
In due time, the sensation in his
stomach continuing, he consulted the
best medical advice in Cuba, and not
getting relief, came 10 the States. Here
be got more advice, and took in one
prescription and another enough poison
TO kill dozen men, but without effect
ing the death of this reptile or ejecting
il. Indeed, the snake seemed rather ~
thrive on the medicine, poison being
his best hold About this time he heard
of the eminent Italian physician, DIR.
Gonzales, Of Paris, and in full faith that
he would be cured sy him, Lieut.. Craw-
ford sailed for France, where he arrived
in due time DR.. Gonzales made an eX-
animation, and for the sum Of 500
agreed to operate on the patient by in
cisiOn in the bach, aud then remove the
cause of this living death. Crawford
assured him that he wished the opera
4 ton performed, even At the risk OF his
1 life, Is death itself was preferable u
the terrible pains and horrible sensa-
tons he was continually undergoing.
The arrangements having been made,
Crawford was strapped 20 the table, the
surgeons and his assistants We're al
ready, the knife was lifted above the
bare flesh, hut suddenly II flashed acros.
the mind of this most skillful and emf
..k.--e.s.., -.
fearful respOnSibility,and the instrument
was stayed. and the fee refunded with 3
liberal addition, and Lieut.. Crawford
left Paris sick nj heart, as well a. in
body, with his terrible burden. The
animal, the reptile, or whatever II i,
has now grown quite large-equal in
size to those he saw in the wilds Of Gu
ba-and most OF the time is dormant.
but st times, IS If craving for food, il
writhes and turns, causing eNcruciating
pains, az which time its serpentine form
is plainly 20 b. seen. When this occurs,
nothing seems TO appease il but eaOr-
nous quantities Of vegetable food. Mr..
Clark and others will testify that Lieut..
Crawford ate three market-basketfuls
Of water-cresses grass, etc, within 3
very short period Of time. Usually he
eats bot little, the stomach being slim
ulsted with large quantities Of whisky,
a small quantity of which would intOXi-
cate an ordinary man, but which seems
TO have NO more efiec. on him than so
much water.
This remarkable case has been ex-
amined by the faculty of the Medical
Colleges of New York and -. Louis,
and by many of the most noted sur
geons, all agreeing that there is no re-
lief for the sufferer. Crawford has
given DIR. Gonzales, Of Paris, fall au-
thOrity TO make "A post mOrtem exam
nation Of his body after death, that en-
inent practitioner considering il one OF
the most remarkable eases on record ;
and we quite agree with him.