Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-25
STRANGE, BUT TRUE.
Interesting Case of Young Man Who
Swallowed an Open Pocket-knife.

On Thursday last John Eckley, 19<year-
old boy who lives at Eckley station, about
one mile this side of Vallejo junction,
swallowed jack-knife with the blade open,
mention of which was made in Friday s
RECORD UNION. he was Immediately taken
to San Francisco and placed under charge
of physician, and, as the knife was in his
stomach, the case was considered of a most
serious nature. w. II. H. Wiley, Wells,
Fargo d Co.'S agent between this city and
San Francisco, was particular friend of
the unfortunate lad, and wrote his parents
for his address, so that he could call and
see him. Yesterday morning he received
the following note " Johnny is at DR.. G.
B. Hutchins' Gil Bush street. The doctor
thinks he will get all right. He expects the
knife soon" Mr.. Wiley, about noon yes
terday, called at the doctors office
and saw his friend sitting upon
the sofa. He greeted him with, " Hal
loo, Johnny how's the knife ?" "Oh,
the knife's all right" replied young Eek
ley; " | have it here in my pocket Do you
wish to see it?n and reaching into his
pocket, brought forth small pearl-handled
pocketknife, which, with the blade ex-
tended, measured three and three eighth
inches in length. " | am all right now;
have had considerable pain, and was al
most scared to death" The knife was
passed over to Mr.. Wiley for inspection.
The steel in the back and the blade had
changed to dark-blue color, and the pearl
handle had been eaten off one-half by the
action of the gastric Juices of the stomach,
the rivets projecting about the thirty second
part of an inch. I'm tell you now how
[ came to swallow it, said Johnny. 81
was talking to some girls, and eating pear
at the same time, cutting off small portions
of it with my knife, when | said,
I can completely hide this knife in my
mouth l put the blade in first, but |
could not close my lips without making it
prick my tonsis. | took it out and put
the handle in first, and then holding the
point of the blade between my teeth, closed
my lips, and the feat was performed l
just then swallowed, and presto. change
the knife went down my throat. l could
reach the point of the blade, but could not
extricate it, and another swallow sent it
into my stomach. It's all right now. 1t
went down handle first, and came out
point first; but it's out now, and | don't
propose following the business of a juggler
any more. No pocket knife evergets above
my lower lip again. In fact | don't think
iack-knives were made 10 swallow, any
how" Mr.. Wiley asked him how he had
been operated upon, when Johnny replied,
g There's the doctor, he can tell you all
about it"
The doctor said When he came to me
saying ne had swallowed an open Jack
knife | could hardly credit the statement
l asked him what he had done to remove it.
He replied some had advised taking sweet
oil, others castor oil, salts, etc. l said, Well,
l suppose you took all of them?' No,
did not he replied, have taken moth
ing All right, l replied, you have
saved your life by not doing So Well,
sir, ! put him on buckwheat diet That
was all let him eat or drink, buckwheat
cakes and buckwheat Cruel. Buckwheat
is not easily digested, and knew it would
form ball around the knife, and thus
allow it to pass along its circuitous route
without doing injury, the blade and rough
edges being completely covered with
thick and smooth coating of buckwheat
1t acted Just as | expected. The blade
came first, and although Johnny has lost a
few days time, he did not lose his knife,
but will take it home with him to-inor
row.