Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-03
WILLING TO SUBMIT.
IN FACT tbs MAN BELIEVES HI has BBBN
UNDER THE KNIFE
Charity Hospital Physicians Believe Peter GuanniO
is Shamming to Get Free Bed and BOard-Aftsr
Hs Fad Been Ehsris,d and Wrapped Up
in BandagsS Be Was Told That q Nail
Fad Been Taken From His Stomach.

New YORK, September 2.-Peter
Guannio lies on a cot in the surgical
ward at the Charity Hospital. Peter
told what big lump and awful gnaw-
ing he felt in the pit of his stomach
when he first went there. The doctors
can find no evidence of either. Peter
continues to get fat on plenty Of food
and rests on a comfortable bed at more
or less expense to the city. The doc
tors hardly know what to do about it..
Peter is quite satisfied.
When he entered the hospital, July
81, Guannio was placed in DR.. Woley's
sick ward. He could speak no English,
bat through interpreters declared that
he could eat little and that the grating
in his stomach continued to increase.
He was examined carefully, but no
evidence of q stomachic growth could
be found. His pulse was regular ana
strong and his temperature normal.
Guannio's 100 pounds seemed to In
crease rather than diminish. He pre-
tended he was unable to walk, but upon
occasions, when something good to eat
was in sight, he has exhibited aStonish-
ing agility. 1t astonished all the ply
sicians that Guannio failed to show a
single symptom of sickness. He chung
to his stomach story just the same.
DR.. J. E. Kelley, visiting physician,
became interested In the case and con-
suited with DR.. Wardlow. They
thought he might be monomaniac
upon the subject. 1t was determined
to try an experiment. They would
threaten an operation and then make
him think he had undergone one. Last
week Guannlo was summoned. The
physicians were astounded when, after
hearing their grave statement that an
operation was necessary, he gladly
agreed to be cut open.
This was the chance to test him, so
he was placed under the influence OF
ether. Now, a person is never ether
lied unless the stomach is empty. The
doctors had taken Guannio's statement
of his light appetite in good faith.
Ether acts as an emetic, and when a
pound OF meat and proportionate guam
titles Of vegetables and other luxries OF
Charity Hospital life came to light the
physicians agreed that Guannio had
lied. A close examination was made,
however, while the tendons were re-
laXed. The man was bound with sur
gical straps and blood-stained bandages
and dressings were applied.
When Peter revived he was done up
so tightly he could not turn over. He
was warned not to loosen the bandageS.
DR.. Kelley told him long nail bad been
taken from his stomach. The man
claimed to be very weak from loss OF
blood, but declared the grating feeling
was just as bad as ever. He was assured
he would get we'll at once.
Guannio continued to stick to his COM
Portable bed and free board. He seemed
to like the odor of the disinfectant
which permeates the cool room. More
/ heroic treatment seemed necessary. DR..
Wardlow summoned the man Saturday
to the operating room, when he told
/ him that his stomach must be cauter-
/ lied. Guannio weakened for an instant,
| but finally submitted with i'll grace TO q
/ generous dose of hot iron, which blister
ed the surface of his abdomen. When
| he was told that there would be daily
| treatment like that Guannio was dis
gusted. He walked back to his cot like
a we'll man, but he claimed he was just
as sick as ever.
! The doctors know not what to do. 1t
is proposed that the patient be placed
/ in a darkened room and given power
/ full emetic. Meanwhile q lizard will
have to be placed in bowl, and the at
tendant will try to persuade the man
that the load in his stomach has been
removed.
After Guannio was cauterized he was
removed to the surgical ward, where he
is in DR.. Mallet's charge. That physi-
clan will examine him thoroughly.
In the meantime Guannio, still be-
lleving that he has been cut open and
with prospects Of daily cauterization
before him, lies in his cot, apparently
! contented. He is fine looking man, of
large frame, with fat swarthy features
and heavy black mustache. The doc
tors are ct their wits ends what to do
with him. They will make no real in
cision into the stomach until there is
some evidence besides the mans own
statement that there is growth there.
at is possible that the man is mo-
nomaniac," said DR.. Wardlow. 1--WE
may conclude to have him specially ex-
amined with that end in view. But
those afflicted with a single delusion and
otherwise perfectly rational generally
believe they are being prosecuted. The
idea Of placing lizard in bowl has
worked successfully in some cases. This
man gives every indication by pulse,
temperature and appetite of being q
we'll man. BE had no difficulty in walk
ing to his cot after he was cauterized. y
DR.. Mallet believes that Guannio is
shamming, though he admits that the
Italian stands rigorour treatment.
I'VE will try ard make him relinquIsh
this delusion il it is real one" he said.
IF he is Shamming we ought to be able
to brighten him. Still I've had several
experiences with men that astonished
me. I've seen some submit to opera.
tions and flow of blood that were quite
severe, just, as believed, for the sake
of staying in the hospital"
Guannio lived in tenement house AZ
No. 13e Mulberry street, where he has
wife and children.