The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-09
CASTING OUT SNAKES.
Remarkable SufrerinEs of n Man Whose
Stomach Was n Reptiles Nest.

About three years ago, writes Will
Transport, Pa, correspondent of the
New York Herald, Mr.. John Longwell,
of Charleston, Tioga county, began to
fail in health. He had always been a
strong, rugged man, weighing about
1S0 pounds. For about two years he
kept getting thinner and weaker until
he weighed but 12S pounds. During
that time he experienced strange sens;t-
tions in the stomach as if some living
thing had taken up its abode there.
He felt, or imagined that he felt, some
thing moving about in his stomach ut
times. On the goth day OF September,
1850 this belief was confirmed. AT Mr
Longwel's solicitation, and to humor
his supposed hailucination, Dir. G. VI.
Webb prepared Il powerful emetic, hay-
ing taking which Mr.. Longwell. after
suffering great pam and rctching vio-
lenLlv. emitted from his stomach two
! live snakes, twelve inches and fourteen
| inches in length, respectively. An ac-
count of the singular occurrence was
! published at the time, but the truth was
doubted by many who did not know
| MIR. LonGweil to be 4 man of uninl-
! pcachable vcracity. About two months
| subsequently, 10 the vomiting of the
! snakes Mr. Longwcll felt recurrence
OF the crawling sensation in his stomach.
| Soon after that he was taken with
| fits, during which his convulsious were
horrible. These fits came upon him ut
! intervals OF four to six weeks, and
| lasted about an hour. lie lost his ap-
petite and became very thin. A milk
diet appeared to agree with him better
than any other, but he could not escape
the frequent visitations of agony and
convulsions. Three weeks ago last Sat
urday Mr. Longwcll had an exception
ally severe fit. which nearly cost him
his life. At that time II ridge was OBJ
served on his stomach, and his attend
ants were convinced that another snake
was living within him. The SUPPOSE
ton was we'll founded, for yesterday
afternoon ut about o'clock, during an
attack which caused him untold agony
and left him unconscious for upward OF
an hour, Mr. Longwell elected garter
snake that was eighteen and a half
inches long and fraction over one-half
inch in diameter. Mrs. LOngwell, who
was with her husband ut the time. states
that when the snake protruded about
four inches from the sufferers mouth, it
appeared to stick fast, although she did
not recognize it rs a snake. Finally
the entire reptile was elected, but not
before Mr.. Longwell in his agonizing
convulsions had bitten it almost through
in three places. Neighbors rushing in
to assist Mrs. Longwcll found the snake
in vessel where it had fallen. They
took it out and washed it
Your correspondent saw the snake in
DR.. Webb's office to-day, and conversed
with MIR. and Mrs. Longwell. There is
not the slightest doubt of the entire
truthfulness of their statement 1t is
supposed that in drinking from pool
three years ago Mr.. Longwell swallowed
the ovum from which the snakes grow.
This is somewhat corroborated by the
fact that the reptile which made its APP
pearance yesterday is evidently of about
three years growth, and about one year
older than the two which the gentleman
elected last September. All were COM
mon garter snakes, species that
abounds in this region.
Mr.. Longwell is feeling better since
turning out his third tenant, but his
stomach is very sore. He feels a natural
solicitude to know whether or not he is
still peregrinating den of snakes. Snd
is also somewhat concerned TO know
whether the family that coloniZed his
interior department has left progeny to
grow up and succeed them.