The herald., 1897-06-27
AN OSTRICH'S STOMACH
THE oAsrRoNolrICAL WONDER
UNDER THE x-RAYS
Several Physicians Saw Evidences of
the Stock Of Junk in His
Stomach

It IL q common expression to say that
one can see through a person. but the
feat is seldom literally accomplished.
Several doctors and newspaper report
ers applied the cathode rays of power
full Crookes tube recently to the body Of
Harry Whallen, the astronomical par
adox. or human ostrich" who eats
nails. knives and other bric-a-brac, and
literally saw through him. This inter-
esting experiment was made in the Office
Of DR.. ]. N. Scott, the expert X-ray sci
enlist, who photographed Whallen's
stomach during the day.
When the test to invoice the stock at
hardware the ostrich" Is carrying
around with him was made all of the
lights in the room were turned out ex-
cept the X-rays in the big Crookes tube
This was placed within an inch of Wha.-
lens body and the surgeons and report
ers placed the Horoscope at his back and
counted his ribs. saw his heart beat and
explored his stomach for nails, screws
and jack knives. It was impossible to
distinguish anything of these objects
tograph or with the Horoscope, but the
test demonstrated that some Opaque
substance was lodged there. A proof
of the photograph developed in the sun
shows that the X-ray penetrated Wha.-
lens body, for several sections of his
vertebrae, his ribs and hip bones are
faithfully reproduced; the picture also
shows plainly the incongruous mass of |
spikes and knives which Whallen says |
he swallowed.
THE OSTRICH" WANTS A BET
Whallen had violent pains in his stom-
ach while the examination was made. |
and declared that he would make All
even bet with any man present that he
had 100 nails and at least three jack |
knives in him.
Now I've got to be cut open; it's
tough luck, too. Can't set even bet
with some of you fellows?" he said
The ostrich" evidently had the bes.
end of the proposition, and no one would
bet with him.
IAN my trouble comes from a Barlow
knife that belongs to the city marshal
at Pilot Grove. He didn't think could
swallow his big, rusty Barlow, but /
fooled him, and 1 haven't been we'll
since"
Notwithstanding his peculiar CASTRO
nomical feats, the Ostrich" is sensitive
about being called tramp. He declares
that although he travels by easy stages
he always pays his way; that he trav-
eled with Barnums and all of the big
shows for years and iS known to the
'perfesh" everywhere as the "acknowl-
= .,,1x- 1T, - ,fo
Whaller's career as human "os-
trich" began in remarkable way.
When he was only 10 years old he swal-
lowed an old-fashiored charm string.
with nearly everything on it, from a
stick of prianiatic glass to big brass
army button. His parents called in sun
dry wise doctors. who shook their heads
and told the family to get ready to
mourn for little Harry.
THAT BARLOW DID IT
But he survived the charm string and
lived to swallow bolts, nuts, knives and
all kinds of junk for seventeen years.
1t remained for the Barlow knife of the
city marshal of Pilot Grove to put the
frs; kink in Whallen's astounding swal-
lowing career.
If Whallen decides to submit to sur
gical opera ton it will probably be made
DR.. Cordier saw the photograph of
Whallens stomach and declared he had |
no doubt that the large dark spot shown
in the picture was metal substance. DIR.
Cordier attended a successful operation
performed by DR.. Meirenbach in st.
Louis. when he took from the stom-
ach of a side show performer twenty
four barb-wire staples, four cartridge |
shells four loaded pistol cartridges and |
several bolts and nuts.
The induction coil machine used in |
looking through Whallen's body is the |
only one of it's kind in the west. The |
rays from this powerful dynamo dis
solve all but the larger bones of the hui
man body if lengthy exposure is made
in taking a photograph. Its rays pene
trate the less solid substances as readily |
as ordinary light penetrates glass
Kansas City Star.
Object to Housework