The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-25
rHRouen GUYS AosplTAl.
strnnco Things to 10 Seen In tho c-cas
Establishment.

strnngo Things to Bo Seen In tho c-cas
establishments.
II the reader can imagine the cure OF
every one OF tho 8, 900, 600 to 6, 600, ODp per
sons living i'll London of some ailment or
disease, no holds in his minds eye truo
picture OF tho vast work dono by Guys
hospital since its foundation. Tho south
sea bubble, hko many another financial
catastrophe ruined thousands Of citizens.
put 1t enabled Thomas Guy, who sold his
investments In tho stock to tho great adj
vantage OF other people Us we'll Us himself,
20 round tho institution which bears his
name and to restore to health (pp to tho
present time) over 9, 600, 900 human beings
among tho many ouriosities exhibited
IN emo famous museum at Guys Is large
piece of cardboard bearing tho remnants
OF 30 pocketbnives which were swallowed
by an American sailor. His name was
John Cummings, and he was admitted to
the hospital In 1892 A small book, con-
tanning also tho manuscript of the print
60 copy, narrates tho particulars of this re-
markablc case, and It may DO perused by
tho privileged visitor to Guys.
IL appears that Cummings, during 90
spree ashore, challenged tho feats of
con1nror who had made a pretense Of swal-
lowing Knives Encouraged by his drunk
en- comrades, tho sailor actually swallow
ed an opened pooketknife, to tho amaze
ment OF tho conjuror. Fooling no imme-
diato pain, ho put five other knives out of
sight In tho same way In two years time
he had, in the course of his drunken bouts,
shown sufficient bravado to enlarge his in
ternal armory by 80 additional knives.
when, after his foolishness had brought
MIN to tho hospital and subsequently, to
MS grave poStmortem examination was
MADE, tho 80 knives woro removed from
his stomach by the amazed surgeons.
These interesting relics arc exhibited
among others in the surgical classroom,
whittier tho students return from tho dis
sectlng room to correct their impressions.
Close by Is another interesting objeot-a
glass case containing number OF what
appear TO be illuminated parchmonts The
grcwsomo nature of these exhibits grows
upon tho visitor when no learns that they
are simply patches of tattooed human skin
preserved in spirits. Tho inscription upon
each enables ono to trace tho occupation
and character Of tho unfortunate patient
from whom 1t was taken. Ono was q col
ored sailor, native of Africa. On some 12
square inches of his skin Is workod IN mr.
tlstlc representation of tho most brilliant
plumaged birds known In tho tropics.
Guys anatomical wax models nro said
to bo tho finest in tho world. Ono of those
Is extremely valuable, tho hospital author
tiles having refused tho sum of 1000 Of
Tered for it by foreign medical celebrity.
IL Is IN absolutely perfect model of the
upper extremity of tho body, showing ov-
cry muscle, gland, vein, nerve and artery
1t took Mr.. Joseph Townc, q clover dem.
onstrator at Guys. fully two years to make
1t, but with him, in 1879, also died tho SO.
oret of tho process by which tho wonderful
construction Of tho human body was re.
produced In wax with such marvellous
fidelity.-London Tit-Bits