of the latter being entirely torn away. All caused by a formidable dorsal fin armed with sharp points passing in a direction upwards and backwards, and which, being firmly embedded in the tissues of the back of the throat, rendered the removal of the fish a matter of no small difficulty. It was about two inches and a half in length, and about one inch in breadth. It is very common in the bheels and muddy tanks. Indeed, its appearance is so well known that it is unnecessary to describe it; suffice it to say that it is known as the "koiee-mach," and I believe to zoologists as the "Anaba3 scandens or climbing Tench." The patient remained in a precarious condition for some little time ; he was subsequently removed to the hospital, and in a few days returned to his home convalescent. "Whether this is a rare accident or otherwise, I am not prepared to say. The sub-assistant surgeon informs me that a relation of his was nearly choked under similar circumstances. The accident in that instance occurred to a mere child, and it would appear that the fish was promptly removed with the aid of a blacksmith's pincers. That this accidont may be rare is very probably open to doubt; but that it is awkward for the person concerned, seems pretty certain.
considerable this damage
portion was
numerous
Giiattal,
2nd
\
\ 33y
AIST AWKWARD ACCIDENT.
Assistant
Surgeon
E. G. Mat-hew, Civil, Midnapore.
Some few months since I was called up about midnight to a man who was brought in from the mofussil by his friends. I found him lying on the verandah quite comatose, bod}' covered with a cold perspiration; the teeth were firmly clenched, and the pulse was barely perceptible. He was breathing with the greatest difficulty, each respiration being accompanied with a peculiar stertorous sound. The history of his case was shortly as follows : He was hand-fishing in a bheel, and having captured a fish, he placed it in his basket, from which it escaped into the mud, and having re-captured the fish, he put it between his teeth, intending to bite through its neck and so kill it; while in the act of biting, the fish made its way into his mouth, and, before the unfortunate man could seize it with his fingers, had passed beyond reach, and was at that moment stuck in his throat. On making an examination, I could plainly see the bifid tail of the fish pointing upwards. I was barely able to touch it with my forefinger. It had been dead'some hours, and emitted a most offensive odour. In the meantime the poor patient was rapidly sinking, his attempts to breathe were becoming very feeble, and the pulse at the wrist had ceased to beat. The accident had occurred at about 12 o'clock in the day, and he had been brought in a distance of nearly 20 miles, anil how he had survived so long seemed truly wonderful. Having wrapped a little lint round the blades of a forceps, and having fastened it securely to a piece of whale bone, I passed it downwards, and having satisfied myself as accurately as circumstances would permit that the fish was between tlxe blades of the forceps, I pushed down the clamp, and attempted to draw it directly upward^. This I found impracticable for reasons to be detailed further I then began to move it ge ntly from side to side, and after on. a little time, being, however, obliged to use considerable force, I succeeded in removing the fish entire. Fortunately for the poor pa tient, he was quite insensible. Otherwise the agony would have been unsupportable, as the back of the pharynx soft palate and uvula were much lacerated, a see
?
I
October, 1872.
considerable this damage
portion was
numerous
Giiattal,
2nd
\
\ 33y
AIST AWKWARD ACCIDENT.
Assistant
Surgeon
E. G. Mat-hew, Civil, Midnapore.
Some few months since I was called up about midnight to a man who was brought in from the mofussil by his friends. I found him lying on the verandah quite comatose, bod}' covered with a cold perspiration; the teeth were firmly clenched, and the pulse was barely perceptible. He was breathing with the greatest difficulty, each respiration being accompanied with a peculiar stertorous sound. The history of his case was shortly as follows : He was hand-fishing in a bheel, and having captured a fish, he placed it in his basket, from which it escaped into the mud, and having re-captured the fish, he put it between his teeth, intending to bite through its neck and so kill it; while in the act of biting, the fish made its way into his mouth, and, before the unfortunate man could seize it with his fingers, had passed beyond reach, and was at that moment stuck in his throat. On making an examination, I could plainly see the bifid tail of the fish pointing upwards. I was barely able to touch it with my forefinger. It had been dead'some hours, and emitted a most offensive odour. In the meantime the poor patient was rapidly sinking, his attempts to breathe were becoming very feeble, and the pulse at the wrist had ceased to beat. The accident had occurred at about 12 o'clock in the day, and he had been brought in a distance of nearly 20 miles, anil how he had survived so long seemed truly wonderful. Having wrapped a little lint round the blades of a forceps, and having fastened it securely to a piece of whale bone, I passed it downwards, and having satisfied myself as accurately as circumstances would permit that the fish was between tlxe blades of the forceps, I pushed down the clamp, and attempted to draw it directly upward^. This I found impracticable for reasons to be detailed further I then began to move it ge ntly from side to side, and after on. a little time, being, however, obliged to use considerable force, I succeeded in removing the fish entire. Fortunately for the poor pa tient, he was quite insensible. Otherwise the agony would have been unsupportable, as the back of the pharynx soft palate and uvula were much lacerated, a see
?
I
October, 1872.
