Year: 1874

From the Nashville CTenn.) Banner.


A Reptile in Young Lady's Stom-
ach.


There is a young lady living within .
mile and quarter Of Christiana, who 10
afflicted as singularly as was the oelebrat-
ed Miss Godsay, the " Sleeping Beauty"
For four years past she has been suffer-
ing with violent fainting spells, that
come on periodically, and are produced
by the strangling caused by some kind
OF reptile that comes up into her throat.
She is choked to such an extent that her
muscles become rigid, her extremities
cold, the pupils of her eyes dilated, and
the skin breaks on her hands and face,
and she is, in all other particulars, thor
oughly convulsed. She is only relieved
by the reptile itself being, as it is
thought, partially choked, withdrawing
itself into the stomach.


The reptile has at various times been
seen by different persons. On one occa-
sion a Methodist preacher was visiting
at the home of her parents, when she
was seized with one of the usual attacks
and the parasitical object even came out
of her mouth and was grasped by the
minister. Being OF very superstitious
turn of mind she had conceived the idea
that its death was her death, and refused
to have it removed, although that could
at that time been easily accomplished.
The minister avowed that the reptile felt
as cold and clammy as any other snake,
but that it offered no particular resist
ance when he clutched it with his hand.
When it made its appearance outside the
mouth it curled its head rather under the
chin, but when loose went Immediately
down the young lady's throat again. 1t
frequently comes up into the mouth, and
the young lady says that whenever it
does SO it appears to lick the roof of her
mouth with its horrible tongue, aud then
recedes again.


A neighboring physician has been attend
ing her during the period Of her indispo-
sition, and has been treating her for tape
worms, believing that to be the true
malady. The symptoms are, however,
entirely different from those produced
by tape-worm. The girl still continues
robust instead of being emaciated, and
the appetite. instead of being ravenous,
is tickle, at times scarcely taking any
foe d, while at other times she has q very
good appetite. The strongest tape-worm
remedies were used, but without any ef-
feet, whatever, and her physician, think
ing her case hopeless, gave it up short
time ago, when two others were called in,
who are using every means in their pow
er to effect cure, with what result re-
mains to be seen. The first step to be
taken was to disabuse her mind Of the
superstition that had taken possession of
it in regard to her afiliction. She has
consented at last to allow the monster to
be removed, if possible, and destroyed,
as she is now convinced her life depends
upon it. The physicians in attendance
are anxiously awaiting an opportunity
to effect removal, and are keeping con-
slant watch for the appearance of the
reptile.


Alcohol has already been prepared for
its reception, 80 that when it shall be dis
placed, SO strange phenomenon may be
preserved.


The reptile, so far as has been ascer-
tanned, is about half an inch in diameter,
of dark color with sort of hairy coat
ing, but no one is capable Of judging its
length. 1t has never been so closely
scrutinized by any one as to tell whether
it has eyes, but that, we believe, is hard
ly possible. All that is yet known of it,
is that it frequently comes up into the
mouth, choking the girl and throwing
her into terrible convulsions. 1t is at
tracing universal attention about Chris
tiana, and all the more so because the
girls life has been seriously threatened
by the peculiar movements of the rep
tile.