Case of Suffocation. Reported by G. R. B. Horner, M. D.,
Surgeon U. S. N.
Sunday, June 10th, in the morning, Mary Berry, a girl about
seven years old, residing in the south-eastern part of Philadel-
phia, put the top of a broken glass decanter-stopper into her mouth.
The top was globular, and about two inches around. From some
unknown cause she took a long inspiration, and, as she says,
sucked it down her throat. It lodged at the entrance of the
oesophagus, and so obstructed that or the glottis, that she imme-
diately became strangled. Her mother and others about her in
vain endeavored to relieve her; an apothecary was sent for, and
could not do so. Luckily, Mr. Isaac Hugg, an ingenious, long,
slender-fingered tailor, living opposite, in Second street, heard
the alarm, ran to the poor child’s relief, and understanding what
had happened, thrust his fingers into her throat, but at first could
not feel the stopper. He tried a second time : after raising her
feet upwards, her head downwards, and over his knees, and after
getting a finger under a projecting point of the broken surface
of the stopper, succeeded in throwing it upon the floor. By this
time the child was insensible, but on the introduction of his fin-
gers, gagged, assisted his efforts, and was resuscitated, though
pronounced dead by the druggist, deceived perhaps by the livid-
ness of her face, and other fatal signs. Of the above facts I wa3
informed while passing her residence at the time of the accident,
and by subsequent enquiry.