S06 
Dr MavceCs Account a Man 
once more challenged to repeat the experiment, and again com- 
plied, disdaining,” as he says, to be worse than his word.” 
This took place on the 4th December 1805, and in the course 
of that night he swallowed five knives. On the next morning 
the ship’s company having expressed a great desire to see him 
repeat the performance, he complied with his usual readiness, 
a;nd, “ by the encouragement of the people, and the assistance 
of good grog,” he swallowed that day, as he distinctly recollects, 
nine clasp-knives, some of which were very large ; and he was 
afterwards assured, by the spectators, that he had swallowed 
four more, which, however, he declares he knew nothing about, 
being, no doubt, at this period of the business, too much in- 
toxicated to have any recollection of what was passing. This, 
however, is the last performance we have to record ; it made a 
total of at least thirty-five knives, swallowed at different times, 
and we shall see that it was this last attempt which ultimately 
put an end to his existence. 
On the following day, 6th of December, feeling much indis- 
posed, he applied to the surgeon of the ship. Dr Lara, who, by 
a strict inquiry, satisfied himself of the truth of the above state- 
ment ; and, as the patient himself thankfully observes, admini- 
stered some medicines, and paid great attention to his case, but 
no relief was obtained. At last, about three months afterwards, 
having taken a quantity of oil, he felt the knives (as he ex- 
pressed it) “ dropping down his bowels ;” after which, though 
he does not mention their being actually discharged, he became 
easier, and continued so till the 4th of June following (1806), 
when he vomited one side of the handle of a knife, which was 
recognized by one of the crew to whom it had belonged. In 
the month of November of the same year, he passed several 
fragments of knives, and some more in February 1 807. In June 
of the same year, he was discharged from his ship as incurable ; 
immediately after which he came to London, where he became a 
patient of Dr Babington, in Guy’s Hospital. He was discharged 
after a few days, his story appearing altogether incredible, but 
was re-admitted by the same physician, in the month of August, 
his health during this period having ev idently become much worse. 
It was probably at this time that the unfortunate sufPerer wrote 
his narrative, which terminates at his second admission into the 
