m 
who swallowed a table-knife . 
Hate man, his case was stated to Sir Astley Cooper of Lon- 
don, Mr George Bell of Edinburgh, and a few others. As the 
great length of the knife would prevent the possibility of its 
passing the pyloris, or making the turns of the intestines, and 
it seemed improbable that the patient would live sufficiently long 
for it to be dissolved in the stomach, various means were 
suggested to extract it ; for, although Dempster had survived 
the first shock of swallowing the knife, and there was no risk of 
speedy destruction of life, the action of the gastric j uice, or of 
any medicine that could be given, it was supposed, would be so 
slow, particularly upon the blade of the knife, that it was 
deemed advisable to extract it, if possible. Besides the means 
already mentioned, the following, though not had recourse to, 
are deserving: of notice. An eminent and excellent surgeon re- 
commended, that Dempster should be accustomed to receive 
two or three times a-day, a large smooth elastic gum bougie in- 
to the stomach, and gradually allow it to remain one, two, three, 
or ten minutes there ; that tubes of elastic gum, twenty inches 
long, should be prepared, of several sizes, from one-quarter of an 
inch in diameter, and open at each end ; that the extremity to 
be introduced into the stomach, should be filled up by means of 
an ivory ball attached to a wire or piece of whalebone, so that 
the lining membrane of the oesophagus would not be injured 
during its passage. The piece of ivory to be removed, and in- 
stead of it a pair of forceps, resembling those used by Sir Ast- 
ley Cooper for removing stones from the bladder, or a pair of 
forceps which expand of themselves when pushed forward, and 
not restrained by the tube, to be introduced. The same sur- 
geon observed, that many contrivances might be devised for 
laying hold of, or entangling the knife; but as it might be 
seized at an improper place, no instrument should be used but 
which could be immediately disengaged from the knife if neces- 
sary. The above plan was recommended on the principle, that, 
when a probang, or any foreign instrument, is forcibly introdu- 
ced into the stomach, through the oesophagus, violent exertions 
and spasms of the muscles concerned in deglutition take place ; 
but on every successive repetition, these spasms become less and 
less, until they abate almost entirely. This is exemplified in 
those who require to be fed by a tube, introduced into the 
vol. xr. no. 22. oct. 1824. 
x 
