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Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
An 11-year-old boy died at York County poor house on November 2 from enlargement of head and abdomen caused by a disease starting in his second year. Autopsy revealed a 1 lb 9 oz earth ball in his colon, likely from eating dirt.
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SINGULAR CASE.
At the York county poor house on the 2d instant. died of an excessive and singular enlargement of the head and abdomen a boy aged 11 years. The disease commenced in his second year, and gradually increased till a mortification from over distension of the intestines terminated his sufferings. The body was opened in the presence of the directors and several other gentlemen, and a ball, apparently composed of earth, resembling a calcareous marle, taken from the colon, one of the lower intestines, weighing one pound nine ounces, and in circumference measuring sixteen inches.
As some children have an irresistible desire to eat dirt and artfully take every opportunity to indulge a vitiated appetite, it is presumable this disease was occasioned from a habit of gratifying such pernicious and inordinate cravings, and that a considerable quantity of earth or such like substances were taken into the stomach.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
York County Poor House
Event Date
2d Instant
Key Persons
Outcome
boy died from mortification due to over distension of intestines; ball of earth weighing one pound nine ounces, circumference sixteen inches, removed from colon
Event Details
Died of excessive enlargement of head and abdomen; disease commenced in second year and gradually increased; body opened in presence of directors and gentlemen; ball composed of earth resembling calcareous marle taken from colon