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e leech of a species very abundant in the country。 The hemorrhage immediately ceased and health returned。
There is a record of a woman of twenty…eight who was suddenly surprised by some one entering her chamber at the moment she was introducing a cedar pencil into her vagina。 With the purpose of covering up her act and dissembling the woman sat down； and the shank of the wood was pushed through the posterior wall of the vagina into the peritoneal cavity。 The intestine was； without doubt； pierced in two of its curves； which was demonstrated later by an autopsy。 A plastic exudation had evidently agglutinated the intestine at the points of penetration； and prevented an immediate fatal issue。 Erichsen practiced extraction eight months after the accident； and a pencil 5 1/2 inches long； having a strong fecal odor； was brought out。 The patient died the fourth day after the operation； from peritonitis； and an autopsy showed the perforation and agglutination of the two intestinal curvatures。 Getchell relates the description of a calculus in the vagina； formed about a hair…pin as a nucleus。 It is reported that a country girl came to the Hotel…Dieu to consult Dupoytren； and stated that several years before she had been violated by some soldiers； who had introduced an unknown foreign body into her vagina； which she never could extract。 Dupuytren found this to be a small metallic pot； two inches in diameter； with its concavity toward the uterus。 It contained a solid black substance of a most fetid odor。
Foreign bodies are generally introduced in the uterus either accidentally in vaginal applications； or for the purpose of producing abortion。 Zuhmeister describes a case of a woman who shortly after the first manifestations of pregnancy used a twig of a tree to penetrate the matrix。 She thrust it so strongly into the uterus that the wall was perforated； and the twig became planted in the region of the kidneys。 Although six inches long and of the volume of a goose feather； this branch remained five months in the pelvis without causing any particular inconvenience； and was finally discharged by the rectum。 Brignatelli mentions the case of a woman who； in culpable practices； introduced the stalk of a reed into her uterus。 She suffered no inconvenience until the next menstrual epoch which was accompanied by violent pains。 She presented the appearance of one in the pains of labor。 The matrix had augmented in volume； and the orifice of the uterine cervix was closed； but there was hypertrophy as if in the second or third month of pregnancy。 After examination a piece of reed three cm。 long was extracted from the uterus； its external face being incrusted with hard calcareous material。 Meschede of Schwetz； Germany； mentions death from a hair…pin in the uterine cavity。
Crouzit was called to see a young girl who had attempted criminal abortion by a darning…needle。 When he arrived a fetus of about three months had already been expelled； and had been wounded by the instrument。 It was impossible to remove the needle； and the placenta was not expelled for two days。 Eleven days afterward the girl commenced to have pains in the inguinal region； and by the thirty…fifth day an elevation was formed； and the pains increased in violence。 On the seventy…ninth day a needle six inches long was expelled from the swelling in the groin； and the patient recovered。 Lisfranc extracted from the uterus of a woman who supposed herself to be pregnant at the third month； a fragment of a large gum…elastic sound which during illicit maneuvers had broken off within five cm。 of its extremity； and penetrated the organ。 Lisfranc found there was not the slightest sign of pregnancy； despite the woman's belief that she was with child。
CHAPTER XIV。
MISCELLANEOUS SURGICAL ANOMALIES。
Marvelous Recoveries from Multiple Injuries。There are injuries so numerous or so great in extent； and so marvelous in their recovery； that they are worthy of record in a section by themselves。 They are found particularly in military surgery。 In the Medical and Philosophical Commentaries for 1779 is the report of the case of a lieutenant who was wounded through the lungs； liver； and stomach； and in whose armpit lodged a ball。 It was said that when the wound in his back was injected； the fluid would immediately be coughed up from his lungs。 Food would pass through the wound of the stomach。 The man was greatly prostrated； but after eleven months of convalescence he recovered。 In the brutal capture of Fort Griswold； Connecticut； in 1781； in which the brave occupants were massacred by the British； Lieutenant Avery had an eye shot out； his skull fractured； the brain…substance scattering on the ground； was stabbed in the side； and left for dead； yet he recovered and lived to narrate the horrors of the day forty years after。
A French invalid…artillery soldier； from his injuries and a peculiar mask he used to hide them； was known as 〃L'homme a la tete de cire。〃 The Lancet gives his history briefly as follows： During the Franco…Prussian War； he was horribly wounded by the bursting of a Prussian shell。 His whole face； including his two eyes； were literally blown away； some scanty remnants of the osseous and muscular systems； and the skull covered with hair being left。 His wounds healed； giving him such a hideous and ghastly appearance that he was virtually ostracized from the sight of his fellows。 For his relief a dentist by the name of Delalain constructed a mask which included a false palate and a set of false teeth。 This apparatus was so perfect that the functions of respiration and mastication were almost completely restored to their former condition； and the man was able to speak distinctly； and even to play the flute。 His sense of smell also returned。 He wore two false eyes simply to fill up the cavities of the orbits； for the parts representing the eyes were closed。 The mask was so well…adapted to what remained of the real face； that it was considered by all one of the finest specimens of the prothetic art that could be devised。 This soldier； whose name was Moreau； was living and in perfect health at the time of the report； his bizarre face； without expression； and his sobriquet； as mentioned； making him an object of great curiosity。 He wore the Cross of Honor； and nothing delighted him more than to talk about the war。 To augment his meager pension he sold a pamphlet containing in detail an account of his injuries and a description of the skilfully devised apparatus by which his declining life was made endurable。 A somewhat similar case is mentioned on page 585。
A most remarkable case of a soldier suffering numerous and almost incredible injuries and recovering and pursuing his vocation with undampened ardor is that of Jacques Roellinger； Company B； 47th New York Volunteers。 He appeared before a pension board in New York； June 29； 1865； with the following history： In 1862 he suffered a sabre…cut across the quadriceps extensor of the left thigh； and a sabre…thrust between the bones of the forearm at the middle third。 Soon afterward at Williamsburg； Va。； he was shot in the thigh； the ball passing through the middle third external to the femur。 At Fort Wagner； 1863； he had a sword…cut； severi