At first he swallowed four, and three days later passed them by the anus; on another occasion he swallowed 14 of different sizes with the same result.

Finally he attempted to gorge himself with 17 penknives, but this performance was followed by horrible pains and alarming abdominal symptoms.

His excrement was black from iron.

After death the cadaver was opened and 14 corroded knives were found in the stomach, some of the handles being partly digested; two were found in the pelvis and one in the abdominal cavity.

Pare recalls the instance of a shepherd who suffered distressing symptoms after gulping a knife six inches long.