The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-04-05
rs 1t q Frog?

Harlem has a sensation in the person
of negro girl named Hattie Brown, whe
is supposed to be suffering from the pres
ence of a live animal of some kind, as
yet unknown, in her intestines. A repor-
ter of the World called on her physician,
DR.. Demarest, of No. $50 East One Hun
dred aud Twenty-fourth Street, and
learned the particulars of the case,
which he had cleaned from the girl her
self and from a careful examination
made. He was called in early to attend
Hattie, who is described as being about
twenty-five years old, fairly educated,
and having a slight figure and prepos-
sessing features. She resides at No. 133
East One Hundred and Twentieth Street
with her mother and aunt, and the fam
lily are all dressmakers.
Between five OR six years ago Hattie
attended picnic, and during the day
drank some water from running stream,
and now, she says, remembers noticing
that she swallowed some object Of ap-
preciable size, though it was forgotten
almost Immediately afterward and only
recalled when it was supposed that some
living creature had taken up its abode
in her body. Not long after this occur
renee her health began to fail, and dis
ease of curious nature fastened upon
her, which advanced with slow out GER
tain steps for several years, until she
was finally incapacitated for work. She
gradually wasted away, grew weak, and
suffered apparently from a lack of vi
tality, and finally, remembering the in
cident related above, concluded-which
is nothing new as superstition among
negroes-th she was suffering from the
presence of some living thing in her in
testines. Her theory was confirmed be-
fore long by her unwelcome tenant giving
unmistakable evidences of its presence by
periodically emitting distinct sounds
and moving itself from place to place.
The girl, having conceived the idea that
the parasite had its likes and dislikes,
and was aroused to greater activity, caus-
ing her consequent pain, by her eating
or drinking certain things, and consult
ing her own comfort as well as that OF
the parasite, regulated her diet accord
ingly. The object, whatever it may be,
at length grew to such size as to be plainly
discernible in her emaciated state as it
shifted it's position from place TO place in
the intestines, but if touched or at.
tempted to be grasped, as she had several
times tried to grasp it, it would fly to
the other side of the body, its course be-
ing plainly discernible through the
abdominal walls. The sufferer attempted
several times to grasp in such way as
to be able to strangle it, but was always
unsuccessful. The voice of the creature
was variously described as resembling
the barking of a puppy and low,
gurgling sound, but when heard by the
physician resembled the "ker-chunk D
which accompanies the descent of a bull.
frog into puddle.
The case has been treated several times
as one of simple tenia or tape-worn, that
being tie natural conclusion reached by
physicians whom she has heretofore con
suited from her statement of the diff
Guilty, but she now says that she with
| held the truth from them and refused tt
submit to an examination through feal
that they would desire to perform al
operation upon her. The remedies
usually prescribed for tape-worm were
given her, but were never accorded
fair trial, and her case went from bad tx
worse. Liquor in large quar titles wa
tried in the effort to destroy the supposed
interloper, and in the hope of revivins
her shattered system. Itwas observed tina
enormous quantities of liquor woult
have no effect upon the girl, who wa
entirely unused to them, but would ap
parently stupefy the parasite for time
laudanum and opium having the sam
effect. But when the effects had passe'
away the parasites movements wer
conducted with such increased vigoi
and its restlessness caused the patien
such intense pain. that their use was dis
continued. When she takes food tn
parasite comes up close to the pit of tn
stomach, and she claims that she can di
tinctly feel it swallow"
DR.. Demarest says hes saw with his ow
eyes and heard with his own ears th
movements and voice of the interlope
A careful examination failed to detet
any signs of any other trouble or diseas
about the girl, and if this trouble wei
removed he thinks she would be an e,
ceptional healthy woman. Her appeti
is not greater than that of an ordinal
healthy person, the only thing wro1
about her being an extreme irregularit
7 of the bowels. He is firmly convince
that the girl has living animal of son
sort in her intestines and equally su
) that it is not a tape-worm. A case
unusual, of course, only leaves room f
= expectant" treatment, as it is techr
r cally called, at least until somethil
further is developed. He does not, no
's ever, entertain very sanguine hopes
beneficial results from medicines, b
thinks that it will be necessary to op
the abdomen and cut the intestines
T. order TO remove the intruder. III
J. operation, which is an exceedingly de
s. cate one has been frequently perform
with satisfactory results in other di
culties, and, DIR. Demarest thinks, c
- undoubtedly be used as means of S
q tling the question of " What is it ?" a
of saving the girls life, if she can be
, duced to consent to it.
I'LL brigham Denies.