The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

Under this heading short letters Of in
terest will be published when accompa-
MED for publication. by the writer's
name. The Tribune will not be held re-
sponsible for opinions here expressed.1
THAT FISHSTORY.
Editor of The Tribune.
Dear Sir:-That hysterical females are
capable of various repugnant acts, sucn
as pricking the fingers, sucking and swal-
lowing the blood, swallowing excrcta. etc,
so as TO be able to vomit substances that
would arouse grave doubt and fears in the
minds of their medical attendant ana
friends is fact generally well known to
the medical profession. Some peculiar
combination of diabolical and hysterical
impulse must have actuated Mrs. Davies,
Of Brick avenue, when she placed a iisl
seven inches long on a plate, vomited on
it and then gave 1t to her unsuspecting
and sympathetic husband to take to Dr.
Dome, who, 1t seems, was quite as inno-
cent as the husband.
In some such way the statements recent
ly published in the Truth are to be en-
planned. For certain 1t Is that no woman
ever swallowed fish the length stated.
And still more certain 1t is that no fish
ever lived and grew in the stomach or in
testine of any living being.
The human gastric juice secreted 70
the amount Oi iTOHl tlSil " loui tccu pms
in twenty-four hours. contains fifteen
parts of pepsin and five parts of hydro
chloric acid to the 1000. The toughest
meats and most indiges table foods are dis
integrated and reduced to a pulp in from
three to five hours. In the light of these
cold, Interchangeable and well-known facts
is this not indeed "A Fish Story"
AS for the echinococcus theory of n
very prominent physician, it is equally un-
tenable. The tarnia ecninOcoccus or tape
worm of dog is an exceedingly rare para
site in this country. Professor Joseph
Treidy had none in his large collection of
intestinal parasites; Professor william
Osler. of the Johns Hopkins hospital of
Baltimore. has never met with 1t in this
country. or does he know of its ever hav-
ing been reported. However. when it does
occur it lays numerous eggs which are
excreted by the dog and sometimes con-
taminate the food and drink of men and
animals. These eggs each contain a very
minute 6-hooked embryo, which freed from
the shell by digestion either bur-
rows through the stomach or intestinal
wall and reaches the peritoneal cavity or
the muscles, or. more commonly. II enters
the portal circulation and is carried to the
liver, or 1t may enter the systemic ves-
sells and be carried to any part of the body.
Once having reached its destination q
cyst is formed, which contains a clear
fluid. But that any solid substance that
would be due to the echinococcus is entire
ly without scientific foundation.
Again, the echinococcus never develops
in the stomach. as the following statistics
will show: OF 1.5il cases. the parasite ex-
listed in the liver in 953: the lung and
plura, 1853; the kidneys. bladder and geui-
tails, 1856: the brain and spinal canal. 1T;
the bones, 81: the heart and vessels 6l on
80 consecutive cases treated by DR.. Mos.
Ter. at the Griefswald clinic. 90 involved
the liver. 10 the lungs. 3 the right kidney
and one the spleen. EZBower. NJ. ID.
1907 North Main avenue.
Scranton, Jan. q, 1896