A statement of the case of Wm. Dempster, a juggler who died in consequence of having swallowed a table-knife / by John Hadfield.

  • Hadfield, G. J. (Geoffrey John)
Date:
[1824]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A statement of the case of Wm. Dempster, a juggler who died in consequence of having swallowed a table-knife / by John Hadfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    traits of inflammation existed in the In- testinesj and Lungs ; together wit h very slight traces of it in the CEsophagns. To enable us to form the best opi- nion of the cause of these morbid ap- pearances, it is necessary to state, that the knife had undergone such an altera- o tion in the stomach, by the action of- the gastric juice, as to have become like a rough saw, with irregular edges, and terminatingdn sharp points. The handle of the knife was.completely dissolved, tile rivets had-disappeared, and a consi- derable portioi^^at; least one third ) of the-bhule also. ^ 'What was left appeared S The annexed wood-cut of the knife, which is * •* of the exaqt- will give a good idea of it’s pre- sept ajipearance, ■ From a io-h is the part of the handle, which was covered with Hone, and is consequently less di- minished, than any other part. From 6 to c is the iron part, to which-the steel blade is welded; and the line, where they unite, may be easily distin- guished by tlie steel being so much more dissolved than the iron.‘The steel part was decreased at least one half, t\hile the. iron was enly lessened about, one quarter; indeed the impressi' n of the letters warranted still remains,