S08 Dr Marcet’s Account of a Mom 
been expelled by this man were still preserved in the Infirmary 
of that city. 
How to act in this unparalleled case, I confess I knew not. 
He expressed himself certain, (having frequently, he averred, 
swallowed one or two knives in a day, and as often discharged 
them, without inconvenience) that every knife had passed the 
stomach ; and though it might not have been so (as is since 
proved), any attempt to force them up appeared to me to be at- 
tended with much danger ; nor did I suppose it more expedient 
or less hazardous to attempt their expulsion downward. I 
trusted, therefore, to the efforts of nature, merely directing 
some castor-oil to be given at intervals, with or without opium, 
according to the degree of pain, and urgency of the vomiting, 
which immediately occurred on his sitting up, or swallowing any 
thing solid. Glysters of thick water-gruel were also frequently 
injected. 
In about a week from his first application, the vomiting 
was less frequent, and the matter ejected of a lateritious colour ; 
the stools were black and thin. Some medical friends now sug- 
gested a trial of the sulphuric acid, in which I acquiesced. For 
a fortnight he took thirty or forty drops of the diluted acid 
four or five times a day, with tincture of opium at intervals, and 
a gentle laxative when costive. His diet during this time was 
sage, rice, tea, bread, cheese, and beef-soup, most of which 
were retained. The matter ejected from the stomach had gra- 
dually acquired a darker colour, as if impregnated with iron, or 
mixed with ink. The stools were as before described. The 
pulse continued unaffected ; but he was evidently emaciated. 
Notwithstanding these appearances, a general disbelief pre- 
vailed as to the cause to which this poor man attributed his 
complaints, and which disbelief was strengthened by several, 
who had before declared they had seen him swallow the knives, 
prevaricating in their evidence on being repeatedly examined. 
I was also blamed for keeping the man from his duty, and 
charged with favouring an impostor. I would not, however, 
discharge him. At this time my senior assistant, Mr Thomas 
Watts; requested permission to try the effects of the muriated 
tincture of iron, conceiving, that if the system was brought un- 
der its influence, the expulsion of the knives might be proved. 
