Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1869 — A Genulne Snake Story. [ARTICLE]

A Genulne Snake Story .

Bnaeb stories, aa a rale, are so unlver sally incredible, that anyone who U bold enough to relate a marvelous one, not only subjects himself to the imputation of untruth, but even to public ridicule. The one that we row present comes so well attested that its credibility cannot be successfully qunation, d On last Sunday night. Dr. Dufllsld, of Hannibal, in thto State, was summoned to the bedside of a patient, upon whom he had been in attendance for several days, for measles, and npon his arrival the lady, who was a slender and delicate female, and who bad been in ill health for several years, complained of a “ choking in her throat.” and that she felt something moving, ana also said that the throat felt very sore. The drag store being dosed, the doctor ordered* s strong pepper tea made, and Sbm alum put in, with which to gargle. She used thto, and the choking increased, lie directed her to swallow some, thinking it was a worm, and having nothing st hand better, supposed thto would relieve her, by causing It to withdraw downward Into the stomach. The feeling yet lncreaaed, and as a placebo, until something better could be obtained, she was directed to eat sugar. In a moment or so, she said something was crawling upward, and she looked as though she would suffocate. She coughed violently, and Immediately a squirming, live reptile was ejected from the mouth, which, on examination, proved to be a water anake, about twelve or fourteen inches in length, and about % or % of an inch in diameter about the centre of the body. It was a yellow, mottled snake, with dark or black eyes, and its tongue darted out in a fearfully disgusting manner. It to supposed that at some time, when drinking from some branch or brook in Michigan, whence she had lately come, she unconsciously swallowed the hideous reptile, whilst it was very small. The woman, as stated, had suffered from 111 health for a year or more, and is now rapidly recovering.— Mitsouri Republican.