Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-19
Alffan0rIa 6az&tte
MONDAY. MARCH 10, 1877.

| LIZARD IN A GIRLS SToMACH.-Ihe New
York Telegram publishes long account of the
case of q girl VITO is supposed to have swallowed
young lizard while drinking 1T u spring, and
which, having now grown 70 It's full size, Is
causing her serious and probably fatal injury.
! According to the account about two years ago
| it commenced 10 show uomistakable evidence
| Of its preseuce by emitting, periodically dis
| tinct SQUADS. The horror Of the poor victim
at this frghtful manifestation Of her mysterious
and terrible tenaut can be hut family imagined.
1t can Only be likened to an actua! realization
pf the superstition Of dem0uac possession. For
time the girl was completely uaaerVed by 1t.
Her days we're filled with terror and sleep vas
reodered one constant nightmare bY the awful
sound OF the voice Of the slrarge being within
but not OF her.
Gradually, however, though the voice grew
stronger add more frequent as the crea-
ture increased iu size, familiarity. as in
almost all earthly lis, aided endurance, and
the strange voice became a matter Of indif-
ference, even sometimes Of jest, to the girl
and her moro Intimate friends. 1t served,
however, to debar her from almost all social
enjoyment, as she could not attend any gather.
Jog where she would encouoter Strangers with
out tho risk OF modification from the sound
which was loud enough Ut times, as she cx
pressed it, to be ''heard all over meeting.
Sometimes its movements could be distinctly
seen beneath The skio, and lis shape almost dis
tinguished as it shifted It's posItioo in the intes-
tines, and, whec desperate with the pain and
encouragement Of her situation, she had seve
raj times attempted to seize it, thiDkiDG she
would strangle it, but invariably 1t cudcd her
grasp, and, secure in another position, would
give out the sounds which it always emitted
when disturbed or hungry.
Long familiarity with the preseuce which she
is at no tiuc allowed 10 forget, has rendered
her siDgularly sensitive as to its movements.
She knows its likes and disIikes, the effect that
anything she uay do or wha. she may eat or
driok will have upon it. aud even when it is
about to utter its periodical cries. Ordinarily
it lies low down 10 the abdomen, but when dis
lurbed by her movements or by anything she has
eaten or drank which Is not to its taste, 1t shifts
abou. and causes her great palo aud uneaslness
When she takes her food, Or ii she lasts for
any considerable time, it cones close up to the
pYloric oriice communicating between the
stomach and iutcstin"S. She then feels 1t dis
tiuctly at the pit OF the stomach and IN her
present cuaciatcd condition It's presence can be
readily distinguished through the skin. 1t is
at these times tia, it al,Acs invariably utlers
the curious sounds alluded to. The girl is
strongly convinced ofis Individuality aud insists
that it has its likes and disiikes aud lis humors
like being of higher intciIgeace than is im-
putcd to such creature. She insists that 1t
becomes euraged if she t;1st', ard cudeavors to
bring her to teras by c7lrg her all the pain
possible. This it rarely ia:is 10 do. 1t shows
a preference for some kinds OF food, aDd Miss
Brown described how distinctly sh) cou ID feel
it swallowing a!!er parioklng of rice. When
satisfied j, gave out sounds Enthusiastically indie
alive Of its cpmf,rt ACIDS, but more especl:
ally anything sweet Or bI:tcr, "cDTaged' Vt and
made it restless, and care for her own comfort
has compelled her sinc? she has become so
weak to observe some regard Tor I W inns.