Summer of ’99
In the summer of 1799, John Cummings, a 23-year old American sailor, crewed on a ship to France.
The Mountebank’s Nefarious Influence
Stationed there, he witnessed a mountebank pretending to swallow knives in a circus near Havre de-Grace.
An Astonishing Claim
The sailors returned to the ship after the show was over; most had had too much to drink that night.
While discussing the events of the night, particularly the knife-swallowing Frenchman, he made an astonishing claim.
Under the alcohol influence, he claimed to possess the same knife-swallowing skill.
He swallowed four knives with no obvious ill effect, although only three of the four knives were seen again.
He washed the knives down with more alcohol.
His Movements
The next morning, his bowel movements were uneventful.
However, he passed one of the knives in his stool.
Moreover, he passed two more knives in his stool the next day.
The fourth and final knife never made its way out of his bowels and also did not prove to be of any inconvenience for him.
On Not Practicing His Skill
Over the next six years, the young man did not practice this skill again.
In Boston
Six years later he was stationed in Boston.
While drinking in a gathering of sailors, he boasted about his former knife-swallowing skills.
His current shipmates did not believe his story and under the influence of grog he began again, he demanded a knife be brought to him to swallow.
He swallowed it instantly.
Throughout the evening he swallowed five more knives.
Obligations
The following morning, word had spread about his tactics the previous night.
Many visited him during the day, and he was obliged to swallow eight more!
The Tally
The tally of the total knives he had swallowed now stood at fourteen!
First Admission
He was admitted to Charleston Hospital with abdominal pain.
After a few days the knives had all passed safely through and his symptoms resolved, just in time for him to sail back with his ship to France.
Pressed on to the HMS Isis
His next ship was the Betty of Philadelphia. Early in the voyage back from France to the USA she was stopped by the Royal Navy and he was impressed into service aboard HMS Isis.
Drunk Once Again
On 4 December 1805, drunk once again, he swallowed his final twenty knives and two days later he reported to the ship’s surgeon, Benjamin Lara.
His Treatments
He was given castor oil and enemas of thick water-gruel, and opium for the pain.
When the symptoms continued, a dose of 30 or 40 drops of sulphuric acid daily was tried in an attempt to dissolve the iron.
Finally he was given murinated tincture of iron, but this made his pain worse.
When the Knives Dropped
After remaining on the sick list for three months he felt the knives drop into his bowel and felt much relieved and was discharged back to light duties.
Summer, Fall, and Winter, 1806-1807
In June 1806, he vomited one side of a knife handle.
In November and again the following February he passed more pieces.
Dr. Lara Kept Informed
Although Lara was transferred off HMS Isis in November 1806 his successor, Mr Peter Kelly, kept him informed of the patient’s progress.
Discharge
He continued to pass pieces of iron and knife handles; each ejection was accompanied by considerable pain and in one instance the vomiting of two pounds of blood. He was finally discharged from the ship, as unfit, in June 1807.
Disbelief
After leaving HMS Isis, he traveled immediately to London and presented himself to Guy’s Hospital for treatment. His admitting physician, Dr. Babbington, did not believe his story and discharged him after a few days.
Readmission and Deterioration
He was readmitted in August, however, his condition much deteriorated. Examining the patient with Sir Astley Cooper, Babbington asked for the opinion of the surgeon Mr Lucas.
What Dr. Lucas Found
Lucas performed a rectal examination and felt one of the knives in the rectum.
Under the Care of Dr. Curry
Although he was again discharged on 28 October 1807, Cummings was readmitted in September 1808, this time under the care of Dr. Curry.
He was given more acid, mucilage and opium but slowly deteriorated, suffering bouts of pain and indigestion and having difficulty eating.
Incurable
Over the course of three and a half years, he consulted several doctors and was admitted to the hospital on numerous occasions.
During this period, he vomited and defecated many knife fragments.
In his final moments, he was sent home and was deemed “incurable” by the doctors.
His Death
He finally died in March 1809 in a state of extreme emaciation.
Biblioklept 