The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-16
Swallowed 4 WATCH
Strange Case of a Tiny Tot
in New York City.
SHE GULPS A TOY TICKER
X-Ray Shows the Thing In
the ChiId'S Stomach.

"Tick-tock in AIma's stomach" were
the memorable words in which little AL
ma Todt announced what threatened TO
be tragedy in her family. says the New
York Journal.
Alma is only three years old and is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Todt.
of No. 225 North avenue Baltimore.
She is fine, large, pretty. healthy.
well-grown child
The other day her mother found her
writing in pain and rubbing her hands
upon her stomach. The mother asked
her what was the matter and received the
| answer already given.
| She could not at first understand what
the little girl meant and puzzled her
head for several moments. Then Alma
repeated more shrilly:
| Textbook in Alma's tummic. Hear it,
mummy"
Then light dawned upon Mrs. Todt.
| Her child had swallowed a toy watch. In
| confirmation of this she now saw the
chain without the watch lying by the
ohild's side.
| This watch had just been given to Alma
| and it had sent her into ecstacies of de-
| light. Although it was only toy watch,
| it could be wound up and licked just like
a real watch. 1t was that feature of the
| toy that pleased Alma SO greatly. The
watch was of shining BRASS and it was
thing of beauty and a joy for a time
to her.
So much did it please her that she put
IT in her mouth. That is a way children
have. 1t is the greatest possible ex-
preston Of contentment they GaH show.
Alma did not put the watch in her
mouth in a perfunctory manner. She
liked 1t so much that she closed her lips
over 1t. The ticking gave her infinite
pleasure. Gurgling with delight she pull
ed on the chain. 1t broke. The watch
slipped to the back of her mouth. She
gave a swallow and the toy slipped
down in her stomach.
1t speaks well for the capacity Of little
Alma's throat that she was able to swal-
low the watch without choking.
Mrs. Todt did not think of the humor-
Gus aspect of the case, when it first
dawned upon her that her daughter might
have swallowed the watch. She hurried
ly sent for the doctor, and in the mean
| time kept the child as quiet as possible,
which was the best thing she could do.
DIR. George ]. Schaller, of No. 1127 North
| Clark street, the family doctor, soon ar
rived on the scene. He found the child
| doing so we'll that he could hardly be-
| lieve she had swallowed the watch. Even
the mother began to doubt whether she
had done so.
Still, little Alma went on uttering her
| quaint cry:
"Tick-tock in Alma's tummic."
Probably Alma could hear very plainly
the "tick-tocking'' of the "tick-tock,"
which was inaudible to those on the out
side. 51ia.
Sometimes she varied her remarks by
saying:
Mummy, dive Alma back her tick
took"
She was evidently more worried about
the loss of her cherished plaything than
the possible consequences of the present
situation.
Two days passed and Alma did not be-
come dangerously i'll, although it was
evident that something was not exactly
right with her. If it had not been for
her persistent statements It is probable
that nothing would have been done to
ascertain the situation OF the toy watch
and she might have died in consequence.
To settle all doubt about the matter DR..
Schaller called in an expert accustomed
to taking X-ray pictures or skiagraphs.
The child was put under the X-rays and
a picture was obtained which demon
strated beyond question the presence of
the watch in the little girls stomach.
The watch being of metal appeared as
plainly as if there were nothing but a
very transparent veil before it. 1t lay at
the bottom of the stomach, near the py-
loric orifce, or outlet Owing to it's size
It had been unable to pass through this
into the intestines.
Having ascertained the presence Of the
watch the doctor was enabled to take
measures for its removal The X-rays
were instrumental in saving her life. Il
is obvious that a child cannot live perma-
nently with a brass watch in its ston1-
ach. Indeed, it is surprising that little
Alma did not become dangerously I'll. L
shows that she has vigorous health and
a sound stomach and promises that she
will grow up to enjoy {. long life if she
gets happily over her present difficulty,
as it is now believed she Will.
In all probability it will be necessary
TO perform an operation for the removal
OF the watch. 1t is not easy 10 see any
other way in which the watch could Be
removed from the child's stomach.
Nevertheless. If any less radical method
can be employed with safety IL VIII be
done As long as the child remains in
fair health there is no need for haste,
and the surgeons are able To proceed IN