Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-22
HE HAD 4 FISH IN HIS HEAD.


The Terrible Agony Endured by a
Eouriecu-Year Old hoy of Reading.
Reading Eagle
A most horrible case of suffering is re-
ported from No. 422 Walnut street, this
city. The name OF the victim is George
Whitman, son of Howard Whitman, aged
IA years. His sufferings were Terrible in
the extreme, and the pain and agony en-
dured by him almost drove him mad.
Young Whitman, in company with num-
Der of boys about his own age, had been
in the habit of bathing in the Schuylkill,
and since vacation commenced has gon 9
in the water several times day.
Three weeks ago he was in swimmir &
with several of his schoolmates, and while
diving he experienced tickling seDstions
in one of his ears. Directly after he had
a little pain, but it was only momentary,
and soon passed away. He probed for the
object with a sharp piece of wood, but
could find nothing. He dressed and went
home, and no more attention was paid to
the matter Some time after he had a
terrible headache, and from that time up
to within few days ago he experienced
nothing but an unceasing agony. The
boy is naturally small and delicate for his
age, and the awful strain upon his nervous
system was enough to greatly reduce him
aud render him almost crazy. Sometimes
there was slight alienation, but it invari.
ably increased, and always with increasing
pain. No physician was employed, his
parents thinking he was afflicted with
nothing but earache. The agony in
creased, and the boy passed many sleep
less nights. His eye lost its brlliancy
and his cheeks their rosy, healthful hue
Laudanum was recommended as 1
remedy for ear-ache, and enough of thu
liquid was poured into his auditory pas
sage to lay him into that sweet sleep tina
knows no waking. No relief was expe
rienced by the frequent applications o
audanum, and rabbits fat was next rec
commended. The animal was obtained
and lot of fat rendered. This brough
no relief, and only greater and more hCr
rible suffering, Matters went on in tbi
way for over two weeks. II was nov
thought that the boy was afflicted wit
: neuralgia, because he only experienced tn
pain in fits and starts. When it first CON
menced the one side of his head felt as
some small object was wriggling an
twisting in his ear. During this time b
( often thought that the top of his head wa
E about bursting open. The properties {
molasses to draw" are well known, and
t drop was poured into his ear. At o'cloc
t at night he had another attack. ana the pal
/ he then endured, his parents say,
i simply indescribable. Sleep was imposs
BILE. Lying quietly down was not to /
b thought Of. Up and down the room, an
e through various parts OF the house, Ii
It boy paced all night. At 6 o'clock ne:
II morning lie felt something press har
IS against the lobe of his ear. His moth,
1t was called, and winding handkerchi'
,. around the head OF small pin, probe
I, into his ear. She saw something pr
a trude. She reached for it, got fir
|, hold OF it, and pulled ont white lookiI
IS object over two inches long which prov,
to be fish, one of the species used
ID many of the disciples of Izaak Walton f
l. uait. Immediate relief was experience
The boy felt as if a weight of 10 poun
* had been removed from his head, and il
ID mediately began to get better. The fl
st is Of q white color, and was pulled fro
the boys ear tail first
lg Various theories are advanced rs 10
ly way in which the fish got into his Fl
Some declare that it went up through
er nosirils aud then working itself arou
ng the brain, came to the opening of the G,
lis The most probable however, is that
entered the head by one of tho organs
ed hearing. .".