The Man Who Swallowed Clasp-Knives

An account of the life and death of John Cummings, a man who strove to earn a Darwin Award long before the concept of Darwin Awards existed. Reported in the Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1880:

In the narrative of memorable cases connected with Guy's Hospital there is a curious story of a sailor named John Cummings, who, in a spirit of vulgar brag, and mostly when half intoxicated, swallowed clasp-knives. In 1799 he had seen a French juggler perform the trick of assumedly swallowing knives of that kind at a public entertainment. The feat was so cleverly performed that the spectators -- or at least some of them -- were under the belief that the knives vanished down the throat of the juggler, instead of being put by sleight-of-hand in some part of his dress. The sailor, in his simplicity, was one of the credulous sort, and to astonish his messmates he began to swallow clasp-knives. He at first only swallowed four, which, fortunately for him were expelled, and no inconvenience ensued. He thought no more of knife-swallowing for six years. In March, 1805, when at Boston, he was one day tempted, while drinking with a party of sailors, to boast of his former exploits, and was ready to repeat his performance. A small knife was produced, which he instantly swallowed. In the course of that evening he swallowed five more. The next morning crowds of visitors came to see him, and in the course of the day he was induced to swallow eight knives more, making in all fourteen.

He paid dearly for his frolic; for he was seized with constant vomiting, and pain in the stomach. Taken to a hospital, he was by efficacious medical treatment relieved, as he imagined, of all the knives he had swallowed. But in this he would appear to have been mistaken. Portions of knives undissolved remained in his stomach. The amount of relief, whatever it was, did not cure the poor wretch of his folly. When at Spithead in December, 1805, and somewhat tipsy, he resumed his boastfulness of being able to swallow knives, and to amuse the ship's company swallowed nine clasp-knives, some of them of a large size. Again he became ill, and was in the hands of the ship's surgeon for several months, during which portions of knives were discharged. At length he was admitted as a patient at Guy's Hospital in 1807, and again he came to the hospital in 1808. There he remained, sinking under his sufferings, until March, 1809, when he died in a state of extreme emaciation.
     Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 12, 2009
     Category: Death | Medicine | Performance Art





Comments
I had to look up the term "clasp-knife" just to be sure: it's a folding knife with a locking blade.

What were they made of to have desolved so rapidly in his stomach? Now, did our boy swallow them open or closed? If open why didn't they perferate his stomach/bowels? If closed they they should have passed harmlessly.

I smell a sea-tale being told here.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 04/12/09 at 10:40 AM
Two things:

1. Alcohol was definitely involved in all his knife-swallowing exploits, per the report. Amazing all the stupid things people do when alcohol is introduced onto the scene (and I am no exception!)

2. They really knew how to write back then! If only today's news reports could use such colorful and varied words and expressions. But, alas, then they wouldn't be able to keep them under the Twitter 140 character limit. And I'm sure the words with more the two syllables would lose 95% of the population.
Posted by vegas_girl in Vegas Baby!! on 04/12/09 at 01:01 PM
This guy wasn't too sharp. He kept taking jabs at thrusting his name into the annales of history but, alas, he kept getting cut down.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 04/12/09 at 10:19 PM
"The amount of relief, whatever it was, did not cure the poor wretch of his folly."
Also read "You can't fix stupid."
Posted by Matt in Florida on 04/13/09 at 10:50 AM
Well done, Maxx. I always appreciate your rapier wit. That sword of thing always makes me laugh.
Posted by kingmonkey in Athens, Ontario on 04/13/09 at 11:51 AM
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