As much as 17 1/2 inches entered the body of the lad.

The stake entered just in front of the right spermatic cord, passed beneath Poupart's ligament into the cavity of the abdomen, traversed the whole cavity across to the left side; it then entered the thorax by perforating the diaphragm, displaced the heart by pushing it to the right of the sternum, and pierced the left lung.

It then passed anteriorly under the muscles and integument in the axillary space, along the upper third of the humerus, which was extended beyond the head, the external skin not being ruptured.

The stick remained in situ for four hours before attempts at extraction were made.

On account of the displacement of the heart it was decided not to give chloroform.