Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-29
Living Snakes in his Stomach.

Abo1t three years ago Mr.. John Long
we'll, of Charleston, Tioga county, Penn,
began to fail in health. He had always
been strong, rugged man, weighing about
one hundred and eighty pounds. For about
two years he kept getting thinner and weak
er until he weighed but l2S pounds. Dur
ing that time he experienced strange sensa-
tions in the stomach as if some living thing
had taken up its abode there. He felt or
imagined that he felt, something moving
about in his stomach at times. On the goth
day of September, 1885, this belief was con-
firmed. At Mr.. Longwell's solicitation,
aud to humor his supposed hallucination,
DR.. e. w. Webb prepared powerful emet-
ic, having taken which Mr.. Longwell, after
suffering great pain and retching violently,
emitted from his stomach two live snakes,
twelve inches and fourteen inches in length
respectively. An account of the singular
occurrence was published at the time, but
the truth was doubted by many who did not
know Mr.. Longwell to be man of unim-
peachable varacity. About two months
subsequently to the vomiting of the snakes
Mr.. Longweil felt a recurrence of the crawl
ing sensation in his stomach.
Soon after that he was taken with fits,
during which his convulsions were horrible.
These fits came upon him at intervals of
four to six weeks, and lasted about an hour.
He lost his appetite and became very thin.
A milk diet appeared to agree with him bet
ter than any other, but he could not escape
the frequent visitations of agony and con-
vulsions. Three weeks ago Mr.. Longwell
had an exceptionally severe fit, which near
ly cost him his life. At that time ridge
was observed on his stomach, and his at
tendants were convinced that another snake
was living within him. The supposition
was we'll founded, for last Thursday after
noon, at about 8 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 half inches long and frac
tion over one half inch in diameter. Mrs
Longwell, who was with her husband at
the time, states that when the snake pro.
truded about four inches from the sufferers
mouth it appeared TO stick fast, although
she did not recognize it as snake. Final
ly the entire reptile was elected, but not be
fore Mr. Longwell in his agonizing convul
sions had bitten it almost through in three
places. Neighbors rushing in to assist Mrs
Longwell found the snake in the vesse
where it had fallen. They took it out anG
washed it.
It is supposed that in drinking from g
pool three years ago Mr.. Longwell swallow.
ed the ovum from which the snakes grow.
This is somewhat corroborated by the fact
that the reptile which made it's appearance
Thursday is evidently of about three years
growth, and about one year older than the
two which the gentleman elected last Sep
tember. All were common garter snakes,
species that abounds in that region.
Mr.. Longwell is feeling better since turn
| ing out his third tenant, but his stomach is
very sore. He feels natural solicitude tc
know whether or not he is still peregri
mating den of snakes, and is also somewhat
concerned to know whether the family thai
colonized his interior department have left
nronanu To grow IN and succaad them