Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-05-09

HOSPITAL RELICS.
Odd Things To re Seen in Great
London EStnbIfsbmcnt.

London Estnblfsbmcnt.
If tho reader can imagine the cure Of
every one of tho n.00uO0D 10 100000
persons living in London of some ail-
ment or disease no holds In his minds
eye n true picture of the vast work
done by Guys hospital since It's fo,indu-
ton. The south sen bubble. like many
another financial catastrophe, ruined
thousands OF citizens, but 1t enabled
Thomas Guy. who sold his investments
In the stock To the great advantage of
other people rs well as himself to
found the institution which bears his
namo md 10 restore to health down to
the present timcy over 100000 human
beings.
Among the many curiosltlcs exhibit
Cd In the famous museum ut Guys Is n
large piece OF cardboard herring the
remnants of thirtyiive pockctknivcs,
which were swallowed by an American
sailor. His name was John Cummings.
and he waa admitted to tho hoSpita, In
1922 \ small hook, containing Misc
The manuscript Of the printed copy,
narratrs the particulars Of this remark
able case, ana II may DO pcrused by
the privileged visitor 10 Guys
II appears that Cummings during o
spree ashore challenged the fcats of
coniuror who had made prctcnsc Of
swallowing knives. Encouraged by his
drunken comrades. the sailor actually
swallowed an opened pockctknire, to
the annzemcnt Of the coniuror. 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 Ills drunken bouts. shown sufficient
bravAdo 10 enlarge Ills internal mr.
mory by twcniy-nlne additional knives.
When. after his fool!shncss had brought
bin 10 thr hospital and subsequently
to his grave. postmortem examination
was made The tlirty-flvc knives ware
removed from his stomach by the amaz.
ed surgeons.
These interesting relics arc exhibited
among otllcrs In the surgical classroom,
whittier the students return from the
disscctIng room 10 correct their impress
flons. Close by IS another interesting
object. a glass cosc containing num-
Der of what appear to be illuminated
~ u III Gl'N StIllt luNUtG Ol
these exhibits grows upon the visitor
when hc learns that they are simply
patches of iattoocd human skin pro
served In spirits. Tho inscription upon
each enables ono to trace the uccupa-
ton nnd character OF The unfortunate
paticnt from whom 1t was taken Ono
was a colorcd sailor. II native of Afri-
en-. 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 nre
said 10 be the finest in tho world Ono
OF these Is extremely valuable, the hos
pitnl authorities having refused the
SUM of $4,000 offered for It by a for.
clgn medical celebrity. 1t Is mn alb.
solutcly ncrf2". :mn,l"l OF the upper OK
trcmity OF the body, showing every
muscle. gland, vein. nerve and artery.
1t took Joseph Townc n clever dem
onstrator at Guys, fully two years to
make i, but with him In 1870 also died
the secret Of the process by which the
wonderful construction Of the human
body was reproduced in wax with such
marvellous iidelity.- London Standard.