The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-26
SWALLOWING LIZARDS.
Terrible Effects OF Drinking Water
From Stream Full Of Reptiles
"A Young Girls Sunerings.

From the New York Sun.
DIR. j. b.. Demsrest of $50 East One
Hundred and Twenty-fourth street, has
in hand case that will interest the
medical world. At 433 East One Hun
dred and Twentieth street lives sn old,
intelligent colored woman named Mrs.
Brown. She has two daughters. Hattie,
the eldast, who is about 70 years OF age
aided her mother in carrying on MILL
merry and dressmaking for livelihood I'M
Til she was incapscitated for work by an
extraordinary malsdy that has changed
her from hale, hearty girl, to feeble
and delicate invalid. With pleasing
manners, intelligent countenance, and
conversational powers above those OF the
average of her class, she gives the follow.
ing account of her remarkable atltlction:
For several years she has been gradually
losing her flesh, and becoming daily
weaker and more languid. For long
time this cause of this change Was mere
w conjecture. Unsccountable pains
and strange motions that she felt con-
WINGED her about three years ago, that n
living reptile was dragging her down TO
the grave. This conclusion brought "
her remembrance that six years ago, ~ u
picnic, she drank from a c"eeF, dipping
the water up TO her mouth IN her hand.
At the time she was conscious OF having
swallowed something in the water, but
she thought no more about it until her
affection forced the recollection upon
her. Inquiry proved that thc stream
contained numerous frogs and many rep
tiles. About two years ago distinct
sounds were heard from the reptile, and
every day rs it grew larger the sounds
that it emitted became louder aud
louder. At times it seemed to be the crosk-
ing of frog, then a Kissing sound was
heard, and this was followed frequently
by that peculiar sound made by II frog
as 1t Jumps from the bank INTO stream.
After these sounds the reptile struggled
with such vigor rs to give Miss Brown
indescribable pain. Recently the sounds
became 30 loud as to be plainly audible
to every one in the room. At length
the sufferer became so weak that she
could not 70 out of the house Until
within the last few days she has mad no
regular medical attendant. fearing that
an operation might be ordered. Under
the advice of relatives and friends she
used large quantities of strong alcoholic
drinks. These did not intoXlcate her,
but they kept the reptile dormant for
awhile. On recovering, however, 1t was
moro troublesome than before. There
fore she discontinued their use. Then
she reluctantly consented to be examined
by regular physician, and DR.. }. ii.
Demaresl, one of the chief physicians OF
the Homeopathic Hospital, on Wards
Island, was called in. On Wednesday
the Doctor questioned his patient very
closely, and, after making IN examlna
ton, expressed his opinion that she had
a living creature within her. de gave
her such food as would tend toirritate 1t,
aud Yesterday no not only distinctly
heard the sounds described by the girl,
but plainly saw the motions OF the crea.
ture rs it distended the girls emaciated
form. His treatment of his most re-
narksble case AT this early stage of his
examination is necessarily of an "expect-
anti character. "She may" he said,
shave swallowed a frog, lizard, or
some reptile when small at the time she
speaks of drinking from the creek. just
what it IS am, of course, unable to de-
termine; but that for some time crea-
ture of some. kind has been living and
growing in her beyond the shadow of a
doubt. | shall endesvor to gain her
permission to go to the hospital on
Wards Island, whore, if other means
tail. the creature will be removed"