SIMPLE MISHAPS WHICH PROVE FATAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2014, 29 September 1892, Page 39

SIMPLE MISHAPS WHICH PROVE FATAL.

While some people survive accidents from which it would seem no moital being could ever recover, others meet with their end through mishaps so simple and trifling in themselves as would appear almost ludicrous, were the consequences not so serious.

Some can play all kinds of p racks with themselves and their constitutions and meet with every imaginable accident, apparently possessed, like the traditional cat, of nine lives, while others throw ofE the mortal coil in so painfully easy a manner as to prove bat too seriously how fearfully and wonderfully we are maie.

Men have been known to pat ballets into their heads, and to drive a number of Sin nails into the centre of their brains, a3 happened only a short time since, and yet recover.

One instance occurred where a man ior years carried the blade of a penknife embedded in his skull without feeling any inconvenience, as was proved at a post mortem about two years back ; while almost its exa.ct pajraUel was found in the case of another man, who from childhood had unconsctoubly carried a penholder inside his head.

We from time to time hear, too, of people, with an ostrich's digestion, swallowing &\\ kinds of peculiar things, from a brass button to a jack-knife, wioh no serious results accruing to them. Yet, with grim irony, we as often hear of persons who fail to get over the effects of a simple cherrystone ox a, mouthful of food going the wrong way. Only the other day a youth, while flaying a practical joke, met. with his death by accidently swallowing a little toy squeaker made of tin, despite medical assistance o,n the spot at the moment. As showing how soon a very simple misha.p may result in the most serious consequences, it is only some few months ago that a father, while amusing his little chjld, thoughtlessly threw a plum-stone icto the little one's open mouth, the result being that the stone lodged in tho windpipe and choked it;. . It is rarely that' one suspects dire consequences from eating a ripe rosy apple, although tradition attaches to it the' character of the forbidden fruit. Yet only, about a twelvemonth ago an old gentleman, through indulging in his favourite fruit) just before retiring to rest, died before, morning.. C^uite recently, too, a man died from the simple accident of swallowing a particle of egg-shell while at breakfast. Probably almost everyone has inadvertently swallowed numerous pieces of this substance and thought no more about it ; but in thi9 instance the sharp edges so lacerated the coating of the stomach that inflammation ensued, from which he shortly afterwards died.

A few years ago a London hospital admitted a patient suffering, as was supposed, from some internal complaint, the nature of whioh baffled the skill of the doctors. Post moi'tein examination, however, revealed the fact that the man's interior held a ball of some red substance the size of a pigeon's egg. This was found to be sealing wax ; and upon further inquiry it was discovered that the deceased, who had been a great smoker of long clay pipes, had for years indulged in the singular habit, while smoking, of chewing off the red wax with which the pipe stems are usually tipped.

Perhaps one of the most extraordinary oauses of death ever recoidei was that of a man who, some two or three years ago, died from the results of a mouse finding its way down his throat,

The oiroumstances of the accident itself were as curious as the actual cause of death ; for the man at the time was loudly laughing at the antics of his shopmates playing with the little animal, when ' the mouse, seizing the opportunity of "any port in a storm," so to speak, suddenly jumped into the open mouth of the too demonstrative laugher, and found its way into his interior. Despite all medical efforts ta effect a* timely release of the self-made prisoner, the poor man died. ' • ! • :! About as strange was the case of another man's death some bhort time since through being Buffooated with blackbeetles: It would seem almost incredible were \t noj; known a.s a fact that thoss^ household, rests are easily attracted' by toe fumes o*f unit l'quor ; and it appears that the man, who had been imbibing not wise!} but too well, had thoughtlessly laid down to sleep in a kitchen infested with them. Attracted by the strong drink, they had crowded into the sleeper's open mouth even more readily than into any patent trap made for the purpose ; and it may be conjectured that they showed no exposition to return home till the morning, b Fa'qe teeth may be all very well in tb§!r placvbut an old lady not very long ago httd to pay dearly for wearing them, atf'on ona

occasion, retiring to .bed without previously taking' them out , as usual, they by some means became detached during her sleep, and, slipping into her throat, choked her. A young -woman was recently treated at one of the hospitals for severe indigestion. She, however, died"; and it was then found that all the mischief was due to a small, sharp fish bone, no bigger than a pin, which, taving apparently been swallowed with the ordinary food, had eventually worked its way into the solid bone of the chest, which it completely diseased. One youDg woman lost her life through indulging in tho practice, once too often, of holding hairpins in her mouth wh|le dressing her hair, one dropping down her throat. Doubtless numerous similar accidents attended with fatal results might be cited among carpenters and others who frequently convert their mouths into a temporary nail box for convenience while at work.