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Story
July 26, 1860
The Carolina Spartan
Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
In Lanesborough, Mass., Jerry Swan suffers arm amputation after machinery accident but feels ongoing pain in the severed limb. Exhuming it reveals matching cramps and cold, relieved by warming and repositioning, prompting philosophical wonder about unseen connections.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Spiritual Connection of a Dissevered Arm With The Living Body.
At Tower's Hill, in Lanesborough, Mass., on Tuesday, a young man named Jerry Swan, was caught by the arm in some machinery, and the limb was so badly broken and mangled that immediate amputation was necessary. This was successfully performed, but according to the Pittsfield Eagle, Mr. Swan's connection with the dissevered limb did not cease with the operation.
On recovering from the stupor produced by the use of chloroform, Mr. Swan still complained sorely of an aching hand Late in the evening his distress became very great, and he insisted that his hand was cramped by being doubled up. The limb had been placed in a small box and buried. His attendants dug it up and it was found to be even so! They straightened the hand, and he was soon easier. This morning the limb was again buried. But he soon complained of a sensation of cold and great pain in it. It was accordingly taken up again, wrapped up, and deposited in a tomb, since which he is again relieved.
What does this mean? Is it all imagination? If this instance were a solitary one, we might think so. But there are so many similar well attested cases on record, that we can only shake our heads and say,
"There are more things in heaven and earth
Than are dreamed of in our philosophy."
At Tower's Hill, in Lanesborough, Mass., on Tuesday, a young man named Jerry Swan, was caught by the arm in some machinery, and the limb was so badly broken and mangled that immediate amputation was necessary. This was successfully performed, but according to the Pittsfield Eagle, Mr. Swan's connection with the dissevered limb did not cease with the operation.
On recovering from the stupor produced by the use of chloroform, Mr. Swan still complained sorely of an aching hand Late in the evening his distress became very great, and he insisted that his hand was cramped by being doubled up. The limb had been placed in a small box and buried. His attendants dug it up and it was found to be even so! They straightened the hand, and he was soon easier. This morning the limb was again buried. But he soon complained of a sensation of cold and great pain in it. It was accordingly taken up again, wrapped up, and deposited in a tomb, since which he is again relieved.
What does this mean? Is it all imagination? If this instance were a solitary one, we might think so. But there are so many similar well attested cases on record, that we can only shake our heads and say,
"There are more things in heaven and earth
Than are dreamed of in our philosophy."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Medical Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Fate Providence
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Amputation
Severed Arm
Phantom Pain
Spiritual Connection
Machinery Accident
What entities or persons were involved?
Jerry Swan
Where did it happen?
Tower's Hill, In Lanesborough, Mass.
Story Details
Key Persons
Jerry Swan
Location
Tower's Hill, In Lanesborough, Mass.
Event Date
On Tuesday
Story Details
Jerry Swan loses his arm in machinery accident, amputation performed, but he continues to feel sensations in the severed limb, which matches its actual state when exhumed and adjusted, suggesting a mysterious connection beyond the physical.