"He distinctly felt the end of the sword blade strike the spoon and for several days could feel it gradually changing its course toward his stomach."
An Ohio sword swallower did his stomach no favors when he downed a spoon on a bet, as recorded in the following article from the August 9, 1887 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, which was a reprint from the Cincinnati Commerical Gazette.
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“A most remarkable and successful surgical operation was performed upon one of the male patients of the Cincinnati Hospital, Sunday morning last, by Dr. F.W. Walker, of 66 West Eighth Street, who was assisted by Surgeon John A. Murphy and several of the interns of the hospital corps. On July 16 a young man of medium build, who registered as Andrew S. Driver, aged 22, and residing at 61 Pierson Street for three months past, entered the hospital. He was almost bent double, and walked with great difficulty, and in answer to questions stated that he was suffering from most agonizing pains in the stomach.
For several years he has been traveling with shows about the country as a fakir, and performing the sword swallowing feat. About four years ago, while giving a performance in one of the smaller towns in the northern part of the State, he was bantered by a number of spectators who thought the sword he swallowed was worked by springs, and they dared him to go through the same act with an ordinary case knife. In this he was successful, and a number made up a purse and wagered him quite a sum that he could not swallow an ordinary teaspoon.
He accepted their challenge, and picking up a treble plated teaspoon of Rogers’ manufacture slowly placed it in his mouth and swallowed it. He after that continued the sword act, feeling no ill effects from the spoon until about six months ago, when, during one of his performances, he distinctly felt the end of the sword blade strike the spoon and for several days could feel it gradually changing its course toward his stomach. Yet all the while he had experienced no painful sensation. Some two weeks later, however, he was attacked with violent cramps and pains, beginning in his right side and afterward changing the course of the stomach in the immediate neighborhood of the navel. These attacks were only periodical at first, but became gradually more frequent, and finally he concluded to come to Cincinnati for treatment.
Arriving here he had a more favorable turn and remained most of the time about home until the date mentioned, when he was again attacked in a more violent form than at any previous time. He then concluded to seek medical aid and to that end entered the hospital for treatment. He was closely questioned and placed under a rigid examination, but owing to the excessive hot weather and the delicacy with which his case would necessarily have to be handled., the surgeons thought it advisable to defer the operation until the weather became more favorable. He was informed Sunday morning that in order to extract the spoon from his stomach a very delicate and yet severe surgical operation would have to be performed, and accordingly during the early morning hours of that day he was placed under the influence of the anaesthetic and the operation began.
Dr. Walker skillfully handled the knife and opened the stomach a trifle below the navel, where, toward the right side, imbedded in the intestines, was found first the handle of the spoon, and working the finger along through the growth the bell part of the spoon was reached and the spoon removed intact from the patient. The intestines were placed carefully back and the wound dressed and sewed up, the patient during the operation giving hardly any indication of pain. During Sunday, after recovering from the effects of the anaesthetic administered, he complained of pain and was quite restless, but during yesterday seemed to be recovering nicely, and last night, when the hospital was visited, he was resting easily.”
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