The morning call., 1894-06-10
UNNATURAL APPETITES.
Queer Things That Were Found in
the Stomach of a Man.

tnS OlOtIgi(1 va a WALL
man of the name of Owen Williams, who
made a living by swallowing various sub
stances. such as leather. corks, bullets and bits
of iron, and who had acquired local reputa-
ton as "Ihe human ostrich" died in London
hospital OF pertonitiS.
Shortly before bis death, when questioned by
one of the hospital surgeons. he said that he
had been accustomed to exhibiting himself and
swallowing any small articles that the specta-
tors chose to give him, such, he said, as penny
pieces, halfpence, pieces of tin, parts of news
papers, coTks, swvelS. watch chains, keys,
lacks, nails and pieces OF rubber.
When an autopsy was performed upon the
body the surgeons reported the finding of the
following remarkable collection Of articles
which had been swallowed:
Forty pieces of cork (cut bottle corksl
Thirty pieces OF doubled tinfoil.
Nine pennies.
one iron ring (size of penny.
len or twelve pieces OF clay pipestems.
A leaden bullet.
A rubber ring from lemonade bottle.
Three pieces Of leather an inch square, string,
cot on, newspaper.
A piece Of leather nine inches long, with
stout hook at each end Zone OF these hooks had
been found in perfora ton).
a piece of string about foot long. with tinfoil
and cOrkS attached.
A few other small things.
AT the inquest which was held after the
death OF Williams the keeper of the lCdgin e.
house where he had lived said that he was in
the habit OF wagering To eat the plate his food
was on, and then proceed to do it. He WAS
also known to have eaten bottles and other ar
ticltS.
The case has naturally aroused a great deal
of discussion in medical circles. 1t is pointed
| out that there are TWO conditions or diseases
known scienc which might account for the
| phenomenon, aside from mere ignorance and
| rockies SneSS,
| These are what is called buimy, or an ordt-
| nary craving for food, and poiypbSgism. or
| tendency 10 eat anything, sort OF univ rsal
nervousness. Many stories are told Of the
! manifestations of these diseases, although the
! cases themselves are. comparatively Soaking,
! very rare. Some OF the TeatS which are on rec
| ord as having been performed with impunlty
| are nothing less than astounding. Thus. there
are we'll authentlca ed Instances where men
| have deyOured the whole of a sheep or pig
! raw, and there is one cas-. that OF menaeerie
| emplUYe i'll Paris, who, It is calmly asserted by
men of science. ate the whole OF dead lion.
| klAnOther Partisan or the name OF Tarrare.
| Uho made "A living by swallowing such things
"a corks. pebbles and whole apples, would occa-
slOuafly eat live cat, and ii the records are TO
| be believed, finally took 10 cannibaltSm.
| soldier of the seventeenth century, Fran
els Battalia by name, ate hall peck OF small
stones every day with his beer aud refused all
| other rationS.
| This warn is vouched for by several of the
| leading men OF his DAY, who seem. W Tn reason,
TO have regai ded the soldier as remarkable
| curiosity
To come nearer home. il is chronicled that
John Cummings, an American sailor who Gird
| In 1915 thereaboutS, swallowed thirIy-fiyt
clasp knives at a sitting ana lived for ten years
his stomach until the day OF his death.-NeV
|