HUMAN OSTRICH IN ASYLUM

Evening Star, Issue 19952, 23 August 1928, Page 1

HUMAN OSTRICH IN ASYLUM

SWALLOWED . NAILS, BUTTONS, AND STONES. Au inquest was bold at WhiUingliam recently ou John Ainsworth Dean (40), of Redcarth road, Darwcn, who was stated to have swallowed 245 bullous, 438 small stones. 219 nails of various sizes, and two or three pieces of silver paper at Lancashire County Mental Hospital, where he had been a patient since 1924. Dr Grunt, deputy medical superintendent, said death was caused by perforation of tbo stomach caused by swallowing nails, and in answer to the coroner’s questions said; “Many of these people have delusions about their insides, and imagine they have serpents, worms, or a ball of fire, and it is just their insane way of treating it. They believe that by swallowing those they tan cure tho disease.” Evidence was given that the man never complained of pains in the stomach until lie collapsed on flic day he died, and he 1-ad never been seen swallowing any articles. A verdict that death was caused by perforation of (he stomach through swallowing nails while the man was of unsound mind was given, tho coroner remarking that he did not think ihc man meant io commit suicide, but acted rather ::s tho doctor suggested, for his own good.