SWALLOWING KNIVES AND FORKS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 80, 2 September 1874, Page 3

SWALLOWING KNIVES AND FORKS.

A shopman at a haberdasher's, says a Paris correspondent, lately swallowed a fork, and all Paris is talking about the hero, and speculating on his power to digest or expel the incoming tenant. The appetite for the implements with which we eat our dinners is not confined to this shopman. The Sieole tells the story of a Yankee sailor, named Gumming, who preferred knives to forks. It sa y S On the first occasion this man swallowed fourteen knives. As may be well supposed he was ill in consequence, but he recovered and was able to recommence his exploit. Being made prisoner by an English ship in 1803, he suffered himself to be persuaded to satisfy the curiosity of the crew. This time he swallowed seventeen knives in the course of two consecutive days. But he was then attacked by excessive pains which required the aid of a surgeon, under whose care he remained for seven months, fie was then dismissed as incapable of service. Twice in the year 1807 he entered Guy’s

Hospital, London, and was attended tdere by Hr Babington, who had much difficulty in believing the account the man gave of the origin of his illness. He left the establishment but again returned in 1808, under the care of Dr Currie, and died there the following year after several months suffering. When the body was opened there were found in it fourteen blades of knives all corroded and partly dissolved. On oneof them, however, the name of the maker might still be distinguished ; a copper button and part of a silver setting were scarcely touched ; but the nails, spring, and horn handles were in a state of decomposition. The final malady and cLc.lli had been caused by the haft of a large knife fixed across the intestines. The stomach itself was not all injured, and Gumming after his last experiment, had eaten with an excellent appetite."