Patient.
—Baby H., a well-nourished, breast-fed child, 10 weeks old, had always been healthy and good-natured until about Feb. 10, 1909. At this date the mother noticed a slight change in the baby's disposition; also that some positions caused discomfort or pain. No cause was apparent; the bodily functions continued normal. On February 17 I was called.
Examination.
—Over the epigastrium was a localized erythema and a slight prominence an inch above and to the left of the navel. A hard, pointed object, apparently projecting from the stomach, was perceptible on palpation, and a diagnosis was made of the presence of a foreign body—a pin or a needle.
Operation.
—A slight skin incision over the prominence revealed the point of a needle, which was easily extracted with the forceps. It was a darning-needle, one and three-quarters of an inch long.The swallowing of pins, needles, etc., by babies is not