Philadelphia Weirdness

Garbage Guts!

In 1909 as the Jersey Devil began its reign of weirdness and cast a shadow over parts of Philly, another peculiar event took place that was rather more down to Earth in its strangeness, but still odd enough to baffle doctors.

On the 21st of May, the Maryland Valley Register reported on an unusual eighteen-month-old baby who apparently had a cast iron stomach; the headline at the time was AN INFANT "HUMAN OSTRICH" - Marvellous Collection Found In Philadelphia Baby's Stomach.

Jennie Yates was examined by Dr. Geo. Parry of the Northwest General Hospital, despite her mother claiming that her daughter was a very healthy baby, if "unusually strong." Indeed, the stomach of the child must have put up with all manner of wear and tear, as several strange items were found after her stomach was pumped.

Bizarrely, the list of items reads like stock from a stationery cupboard: 1 safety pin, 1 long piece of string, 7 wads of paper, 4 buttons, 3 hooks, 1 large elastic band, 2 pins, 25 uncooked and very hard beans, 1 piece of pink thread, 1 threaded needle, 1 yard of twine, and, even more amazing, 33 phosphorous match heads! Of course, these incredible finds caused the doctors to ask the mother several questions regarding the welfare of her baby daughter. Mrs. Yates stated that her daughter would simply reach for any item when hungry, whether kitchen utensil or item of clothing!

The biggest mystery of all was the fact that the phosphorous that had been swallowed was in fact enough to kill ten men, and yet Jennie was not harmed in any way from the ridiculous consumption.

Thankfully, the saying "You are what you eat" isn't always true.

Image Credit: Flickr user MikeBlythe

Sources: Fortean Times : Fishy Yarns Issues 47-51, Valley Register