The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-04-10
HOSPITAL RELICS.
odd Things 20 he Seen In Great
London Esta blishm~nt.

odd Things TO De Seen In Great
London Essa ablishmcnt.
II the reader can imagine the cure OF
every one Of the 5,0o0.000 to 60o,oW
persons living in London OF some all
ment or disease he holds in bis minds
eve true picture Of the vast wors
done by Guys hospital since It's founda'
ton. The south sea bubble, like many
another financial catastrophe. ruined
thousands OF citizens hut II enabled
Thomas Guy, who sold his investments
In the stock to the great advantage oil
other people as well as himself to
found the institution which bears his
name and to restore to health down to
the present time) over 100000 human
beings
Among the many curiositles exhibit
ed In the famous museum at Guys Is
large piece OF cardboard bearing the
remnapts of thirty-fve pocket&nives,
which were swallowed by an American
sailor. His name was John Cummings,
and be was admitted TO the hospital ID
1900. A small book, containing alsc
the manuscript of the printed copy,
narrates the particulars of this remark
able case, and 1t may be perused by
the privileged visitor TO Guys.
II appears that Cummings during
spree ashore challenged the feats of
conjuror who had made a pFetense OF
swallowing knives. Encouraged by ms
drunken comrades, the sailor actually
swallowed an opened pocketknife, te
the amazement of the conjuror. Feel
ing no immediate pain, he put five Other
knives out of sight in the same way
In two years time he had, in the course
OF his drunken bouts shown sufficient
brayado to enlarge his internal ar
mory by twenty-nlne additional knives
When, after his foolishness had brought
him to the hospital and subsequently
to his grave postmortem examinator
was made the thirty-fve knives were
removed from his stomach by the amaZ
ed surgeons.
These interesting relies are exhibited
among others in the surgical classroom,
whittier the students return from the
dissecting room TO correct their impress
sions. Close by is another interesting
object. a glass case containing a num-
Der of what appear TO be Illuminated
parchments. The grewsome nature OF
these exhibits grows upon the visitor
when he learns that they are simply
patches Of tattooed human skin pre-
served in spirits. The Inscription upon
each enables one to trace the occupa.
ton and character of the unfortunate
patient from whom 1t was taken. One
was a colored sailor, native Of Afri-
ca. On some twelve square inches OF his
skin is worked an artistic representa-
ton Of the most brilliant plumaged
birds known In the tropics.
Guys anatomical wax models are
said to be the finest in the world. One
of these is extremely valuable, the hos
pltal authorities having refused the
sum of 5000 offered for it by for,
eign medical celebrity. 1t Is an alb
solutely perfect model of the upper ex.
tremity of the body, showing every
muscle, gland, vein, nerve and artery.
1t took Joseph Towne, clever dem
onstrator at Guys, fully two years to
make II, but with him In 1879 also died
the secret of the process by which the
wonderful construction of the human
body was reproduced in wax with such
marvellous fidelity.-London Standard.