The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-10-16
THE DOCTORS PUZZLED.
Strange Experience Of a Mnn In whose
Stomach an Unknown Animal Existcd
for Fifteen Yenra.

new Market street, says the Phiiadel-
phia Times, Frederick Morkoe has
something preserved in alcohol. A few
days ago the something, instead of being
in the big bottle, was in Frederick Mar
koe, and the occurrences that led to its
change of residence have made the peo-
pie up in the sixteenth ward excited and
talkative. Fifteen years ago, during the
war, Frederick Markoe was in the army
and fought during the Peninsula cam
paign under Mcclellan. Upon several
occasions, when marching through
marshes, and when burning with thirst,
Markoe ran to the muddy pools of water
that abounded about the line of march,
and, kneeling at the brink, drank deep.
" of the slimy contents. After the war
had ended and the army had been dis
banded, Markoe returned to his Phila-
! delphla home, and for the first time in
his life experienced symptoms of a
chronic disease. At frequent intervals
q large lump would make its appearance
in the region Of his stomach, and in the
center of the uncomfortable mass he
could feel something twisting and turn
ing. Heretofore he had been q remark
ably sound sleeper, but now his family
was awakened at night by noises in his
bed-chamber, and upon entering il they
would find Markoe fiat upon the floor.
and, though still asleep. wriggling over
the carpet with the aid of nothing but
his hands. When awakened he would
express surprise that he was not lying
in bed, and could offer no explanation
of his strange conduct. Before enter. |
ing the army he at times accompanied to |
the Delaware wharves on Saturday |
nights companions who wished to take a |
dive into the river, but he could not |
swim, and no inducement could prevail |
upon him to enter the water. About the |
time, however, that the other strange
symptoms developed themselves in him,
he went to the wharf, one Saturday
night, with some friends, and declared
that he thought he could swim as we'll
as any OF them. He plunged into the
water, and, to bis friends amazement,
swan vigorously and gracefully about,
surprising all of them in rapidity and
endurance. 1t was noticed, however,
and commented upon, that he did not
use the ordinary stroke of ordinary peo-
pie, there being peculiar wri9gling
motion perceptible in his body. When
asked where he had acquired such a
peculiar style, Markoe positively de-
clared that never before in his life had
he swan, and that he had Just felt that
he could support himself in the water
as well as any one else. No amount of
argument or banter ever induced him to
depart from his original tale. Another
thing peculiar about Markoe at this
time was the fact that while his appe-
tite became really ravenous yet his
frame became more spare. What he ate
seemed to do him but little good. His
family became alarmed and sent for
doctor. Markoe told the physician
about the lively lump in his stomach,
the peculiarities of his appetite and his
continued ill-health. He was told that
he had severe attack of dyspepsia, and
for this disorder he was treated. Medi-
cine, however, failed to relieve him of
his troubles, and for thirteen years the
peculiar symptoms that first made their
appearance after the close of the war
have continued in their original agera-
waited shape, and during that long time
the bed-chamber scene has been re-en-
acted many times, and Markoe displayed
q strong desire to be in the water. In
the hope OF regaining his health, he
went to Cape May with the intention of
week or two. The first day
Of his visit, while bathing in the surf,
breaker took him unawares, threw him
upon his back and forced him to swal-
ow a quantity of salt water. He in
'tantly became very sick, vomiting
md retching severely, but swig of ,,
brandy somewhat restored his stomachs ,
one. Directly afterward, in speaking
% friend Of the occurrence, Markoe
aid that while sick he had distinctly {
elt movement in his throat as though !
was trying to crawl up and !
lad dropped back at every effort. The {
riend suggested that possibly there was {
omething in Markoe's stomach that
'hould not be there, and that it would
1e an excellent idea to take another {
iraught OF salt water and see if he could &
lot rid himself of the foreign matter. s
Markoe said he would follow the advice. :
That night he did not awaken his bed :.
companion by crawling over the floor.
the following morning he again went in
bathing and purposely swallowed some
SAT- water. Again he was taken sick.
de declared that he suffered so much
hat he was determined to return home 9
md see his physician. He came back
% Philadelphia and sent for DIR. Nor :
on, who administered medicine to him.S /
For fifteen hours his sickness, accom- !
panied by very frequent vomiting, con- I
inued. At the end of that time a large !
object left his mouth, and Markoe
'aid he felt very much better. When
he doctor came he carefully examined
he object and at once pronounced it to
De large water lizard. It was four
md three-fourths inches in length and
IS thick as a mans forefnger.
>" You see, said the doctor, "this is
! fresh-water lizard, and the salt water s
dlled it. You couldn't expect a fresh '
water lizard to live in salt water. That'e {
What want to know" said Markoe.
Rho had been looking az the thino, wifi