HUMAN OSTRICH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 9

HUMAN OSTRICH

extraordinary diet NAILS AND LIVE BULLET Discovered in the stomach of a patient during an operation at the County Mental Hospital, Upton, near Chester, an amazing array of 497 articles, weighing altogether 3Jlb., were on view at the inquest. It was stated by the police that the extraordinary diet of the victim, Frederick Vincent Edwards, aged 28, farmer, of Biddings, WybunburJ near Crewe, included:—Two hundred nails, from half an inch to 4£ inches long; 36 staples and 33 gramophone needles, six teaspoons and three table forks, four pennies, two, halfpennies and a shilling, six brace buckles, two links of beads, eight teaspoon handles and three keys, a live revolver bullet, one brass tap "key, three penknives and two Bafety pins, four sewing needles and six pins, six bolts and three nuts, one button-hook, two metal guides for a spring bed mattress, one alarm clock key, four screw-in handles for a sideboard, a motor tyro valve, a tiepin and a gas lamp burner, two buttons and a watch key. a rolled gold ring and a pebble stone, 13 pieces of glass and earthenware, four collar studs, five washers, nine screws and seven curtain rings, a bicycle valve and 92 small miscellaneous articles which could not be described.

Evidence was given that deceased had been strange in his manner for about three years, but the family had no suspicion that he was swallowing things. A number of the articles enumerated had been missed from the l house. Dr. Hamilton Grills, medical superintendent at the hospital, said that Edwards had a delusion that his stomach was too smooth. He was X-rayed and numerous foreign bodies were found in his stomach. The operation was successful and diet not hasten his death, but gave him a: chance to live. Death was due to ulceration of the stomach and hemorrhage. Dr. Grills was surprised that a man could live with so many articles in his stomach. The Coroner: Can you imagine how ho swallowed such large articles as a teaspoon? Witness: It is difficult to imagine, but there is no question that he did swallow them. The coroner remarked that he did not believe Edwards had any intent to end his life, but that he swallowed the articles because he was irrr.ne. "I find that he died from the causes mentioned and due to misadventure," added the coroner.