The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
SWALLOWING NEEDLES AND PINS.


ffort NE Josn1i des DYsrha
Here Ia a singular case and for all that, n
ia case that is not absolutely rare. 1t Ia
known that there arc some epicures who have
decided tasto for needles. They swallow
them by tho dozen like oysters. some with 40
apparent passion. Tor cases are cited OF persons
who havo swallowed hundreds OF noodles.
There are others who prefer pins little whlta
pins with round heads. Fins and needles travel
all through the tissues. They work the ir way
almost with oaso through tho body. much more
surely than living creatures. Thor migration
through the different organs Is moro or leso
long. At tho end Of several months. and often
after several years tho needles roach tho skin.
and they are taken out sometimes In the same
manner that pin Is pucked from n pin cushs
ion. No doubt tho thing seems improbable. but
II Is absolutely truo.
We find lovers OF needles not only among
lunatics. but even among people sound In body
and mind. At La Salpetroire especially there
have been patients who have swallowed hun.
dreds OF needles. Silvy makes special mention
OF a woman In tho full enjoyment OF all hot
faculties who had passion for dovouring pins
and noodles. At tho autopsy OF her body
Fqbricc dc Hidden tells OF q lady full OF hoaltb
who in her moments OF cnnui swallowed pins
their Introduction Villars reports the case OF u
young woman of 20 years who in nine months
turned ont more than 200 needles needles , and pins
gers came out through the hands. the arms. the
armpits. the abdomen, and oven the knees. and
rapidly than the needles, the latter being oxi-
died.
DR.. Otto OF Copenhagen cites another case NOT
less curious. The observation that he was on.
ahlod to make was in the case Of young girl
who. in fit, had probably swallowed a, large
come out from different parts Of her body.
Little .pimpcs formed themselves on the sur;
necdlcs-.from one OF which 100 needles were
DR.. Gillette. q hospital surgeon. who has Just
published n very interesting note on this subs
cited an analogous case before the Irish S)ciciy
the body OF nurse in Whitworth Hospital. Ons
OF tho noodles penetrated the elbow. end tha
nurse died ut tho Richmond Hospital II could
not exactly be ascertained how they had been
| taken into the body hut everything tends to the
belief. says Pr bigger: that they had been
toned, according TO DR.. Camara Cabral. tho
case OF. young girl sixteen years old. an cpl.
leptic. from different parts Of whose body over
| DR.. Gillette has lust referred to case OF a
similar nature in Paris with young girl Of 90
who gave out from different parts Of hor body
| several needles. which appeared under thd
skin, and. perforating IT, could easily be taken
| out with the fingers. or with little pinchors.
| Their coming out was not accompanied by any
now Of blood. On being questioned on this
subject the young girl remained silent as to tina
| origin Of the presence OF tho needles in hor
body.
Suspectng that the thing was mere trick,
NJ LeppIlnlcr watched the patient closely and
was h mself able to witness the coming out
81 tie Decides. In eighteen months mors
pui into little flannel needle case
EQl 10 most part they We're oAidized and black
! The greater portion were complete; others
were broken. and were taken out In fragments
more or less long These needles came out
from different parts of the body, at irregular
| Intervals and taking n parallel course invarl!
ably the same. Thus. from the Atm TO the 7lh
the 10th Of November 100. It often happened
that great number appeared in single day.
In October lSS,i. there came out ~ u. 81. ana
20 day. Tho greatest quantity appeared
were found in, tie legs, the arms,
strange pkRenomenon precededthre issue forth Of
these foreign bodies The patient experienced
several hours in advance stinging pains. which
produced "A fever well marked. Then she felt q
| sensation rs of "A sudden projection or shock
within the tissues. followed by prickling sensa-
| tion The young girl then examined the part
| Of the body which had been the seat Of this mo-
mcnary sensation. aud she saw the head Of a
! needle outside the skin TO a sufficient length TO
be caught hold OF and pulled out. llthe needles
came out head foremost. NJ. Lepaulmier took
| out 3lS. Six were extracted by the patient her
self There was no trace OF inflammation ut the
parts from which they came out
Tho girl never having displayed any over
nervous excitement. Mcssrs. Lepaulmier and
Gillette came TO the conclusion that the needles
had been voluntarily swallowed by the young
girl with view To committing suicide. She
never gave any explanation further than 10 say
! that while she was AT school one OF her COM
rades. who several times had tried to play ugly
tricks upon her, must have put the needles into
sweets, which she was particularly fond OF.
This explanation sooms difficult to admit. Even
w 10 the present day needles from time TO timo
make their appearance through the body Of tho
young lady.
Similar cases might be multiplied. 1t is suf-
| ncicnt Tor us 10 have shown that the exit OF
needles and pins through the skin is IA positive
fact. The preceding details 20 to show beyond
a doubt that pins can often be swallowed with
out any serious consequences. and that thore Is
no need Tor serious alarm when ono has acci-
drntally been swallowed. At the same time. the
above cases have also shown that II is prudent
" alstaln from pins and needles rs articles of
| food. HENRI DE PARvILLE.