Marcellus Donatus
records an instance in which a viper, which had previously
crawled into the mouth, had been passed by the anus. There are
also recorded instances in French literature in which persons
affected with pediculosis, have, during sleep, unconsciously
swallowed lice which were afterward found in the stools.
There is an abundance of cases in which leeches have been
accidentally swallowed. Pliny, Aetius, Dioscorides,
Scribonius-Largus, Celsus, Oribasius, Paulus Aegineta, and
others, describe such cases. Bartholinus speaks of a Neapolitan
prince who, while hunting, quenched his thirst in a brook,
putting his mouth in the running water. In this way he swallowed
a leech, which subsequently caused annoying hemorrhage from the
mouth. Timaeus mentions a child of five who swallowed several
leeches, and who died of abdominal pains, hemorrhage, and
convulsions. Rhodius, Riverius, and Zwinger make similar
observations. According to Baron Larrey the French soldiers in
Napoleon's Egyptian campaign occasionally swallowed leeches.
Grandchamp and Duval have commented on curious observations of
leeches in the digestive tract. Dumas and Marques also speak of
the swallowing of leeches. Colter reports a case in which beetles
were vomited.
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