Died March 1809
After seeing a circus performer do a knife-swallowing trick, Seaman John Cummings began actually swallowing knives. On the first of three occasions, he swallowed 4 knives and quickly passed 3 with no ill-health. On the second occasion, he swallowed 14 knives and after a few days with abdominal pain he passed all of them. On the third occasion, he swallowed 20 knives and a case, but after a few days he had only passed the case. After around four years of pain, he died. On autopsy, a knife blade and spring were found in his intestines, and between 30 to 40 fragments of metal, wood, and horn were found in his stomach