The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-20
Swallowing Needles and Pins.

Here is singular case, and, Tor all
hat, it is q case that is not absolutely
are. 1t is known that there are some
pictures who have a decided taste for
leedles. They swallow them by the
lozen ike oysters, some with an appar-
mt passion, for cases are cited of per-
IONS who have swallowed hundreds OF
needles. There are others who prefer
white pins with round heads.
Pins and needles travel all through the
tissues They work their way almost
with ease through the body, much more
surely than living creatures. Their mi
grafton through the different organs is
more or less long. At the end of sew
eral months, and often after several
years, the needles reach the skin, and |
they are taken out sometimes in the |
same manner that a pin is plucked from |
a pin-cushion. No doubt the thing
seems improbable, but it is absolutely
true.
We find lovers of needles rot only
among lunatics, but even among people
sound in body and mind. At La Sal
petreire especially there have been
patients who have swallowed hundreds
of needles. Silvy makes special men,
ton of a woman in the full enjoyment
of all her faculties who had a passion
for devouring pins and needles. Atthe
autopsy of her body 1880 Of them were
found in various organs. Fabrice de
Hidden tells of lady full of health who
in her moments of ennui swallowed pins
which came out through the skin six
wears after their introduction. Villars
reports the case of a young woman OF
26 wears who in nine months turned out
more than 200 needles and pins swal-
lowed two years before. These little
strangers came out through the hands,
the arms, the armpits, the abdomen, and
even the knees, and all upon the left
side. The pins advanced more rapidly
than the needles, the latter being oxi-
died.
DIR. Otto of Copenhagen cites anoth-
er case not less curious. The obserya-
ton that he was enabled to make was
in the case of a young girl who, in a fit,
had probably swallowed a large guam
tity of needles. DIR. Otto saw 395 of
them come out from different parts OF
her body. Little pimples formed them
selves on the surface of the skin in
bunches-perfect nests of needles
from one of which 100 needles were ex-
tracted.
Dr.. Gillette, hospital surgeon, who
has just published very interesting note
on this subject, states that in January,
1878, Dr. Bigger cited an analogous
case before the Irish Society of Surgery.
Over 800 needles were found in the body
of nurse in Whitford Hospital. One
of the needles penetrated the elbow, and
the nurse died at the Richmond Hos
pital. 1t could not be exactly ascer-
tanned how they had been taken into the
body, but every thing tends to the be-
lief, says DIR. Bigger, that they had been
swallowed. We have ourselves recent
ly mentioned, according to DR.. Camara
Cabral, the case of a young girl sixteen
years old, an epileptic, from different
parts of whose body over 80 needles
were taken. ~
DR.. Gillette has just referred to case
of similar nature in Paris with young
girl of 20, who gave out from different
parts of her body several needles, which
| appeared under the skin, and, perforat-
! ing it, could easily be taken out with
the fingers, or with little pincbers.
Their coming out was not accompanied
by any flow of blood. On being ques
toned on this subject the young girl re-
manned silent as to the origin of the
presence of the needles in her body.
Suspecting that the thing was mere
trick, NJ Lepaulmier watched the pa
tient closely and was himself able t.
witness the coming out of the needles
In 10 months more than 800 ap peared
They were all put into little flame
needle-case. For the most part they
were oxidized and black. The greater
portion were complete; others we're bro
ken, and were taken out in fragments
more or less long. These needles came
out from different parts of the body,a If
regular intervals, and taking parable
course invariably the same. Thus, from
the 4th to the 9TH of September, AZ ap
peared, and from the 9th to the 10th o.
November, 100. 1t often happened tha
a great number appeared in single
day. In October, 1874, there came ou
21, 81, 81, and 20 day. The creates
quantity appeared just above the right
breast; but they were found in the legs
the arms, the temple, and the righ'
cheek. A strange phenomenon pre-
ceded the issue forth of these foreign
bodies. The patient experienced sew
eral hours in advance singing pains
which produced fever well marked
Then she felt sensation as of sud
den projection or shock within the It's
sues, followed by prickling sensation
The young girl then examined the part o
the body which had been the seat of thii
momentary sensation, and she saw tht
head of a needle outside the skin to-
sufficient length to be caught hold o
and pulled out. All the needles came
out head foremost. M. Lepaulnfiel
took, out 31S. Six were extracted b,
the patient herself. There was no trace
of Inflammation at the parts from which
they came out.la f5.i''- lell hre SCI
I The girl never having displayed any
over-nervous excitement, Messrs. LIE
;paulmier and Gillette came to the con
clusion that the needles had been vol
UNFAIRLY swallowed by the young cir
with view to committing suicide. Sh
never gave any explanation further thai
Z to say that while she was at school on
Il of her comrades, who several times ha6
tried to play ugly tricks upon her, mus
have put the needles into sweets, whicl
she was particularly fond Of. This ex
PLANTATION seems difficult to admit. Eve
upto che present day needles from tim
to time make their appearance throug
the body of the young lady.
Similar cases might be multiplied.
is sufficient for us to have shown tina
the exit of needles and pins through tn
skin is positive fact. The preceding
details go to show beyond doubt tha
pins can often be swallowed without an
serious consequences, and that there
no need for serious alarm when one ha
accidentally been swallowed. At tn
same time, the above cases have ais
4 shown that it is prudent to abstain fror
pins and needles as articles of food
Henri de ParviIIe, in Paris Journal dt
DebGts. Ri.