John Fasel

Fasel was born c. 1881.^[1] In June 1899, he was hired as a performer in a freak show. He also worked as an independent performer with his John Fasel Association.^[2] He lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.^[1] He was nicknamed the "Human Ostrich" and less popularly the "Chain Swallower"^[3] and "The Human Junk Shop". He suffered from epilepsy and was hospitalized due to the condition in October 1908.^[4]

In January 1900, Fasel was admitted to St. John's Episcopal Hospital for indigestion.^[5] Doctors removed three pocket watch chains, twenty-four nails, three keys, five hairpins, 128 pins, and some pocketknives, among other objects. Following the procedure, doctors suggested he change his career, so he then worked as a tailor,^[2] though tailoring did not pay enough, and by February, he returned to performing.^[5]

On August 4, 1900, Fasel was admitted to Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center for indigestion.^[2] Doctors removed three or four nails and a piece of bone, and was released from the hospital on August 8.^[6] He claimed he was coerced by a group of men at a saloon into eating the nails with the threat of violence.^[2] Though, Dr. Klein claimed that he had a photograph of Fasel's x-ray, which showed no objects in his stomach.^[7] Afterward, he returned to performing and now kept a compendium of what he swallowed and worked more cautiously.^[1]

In 1904, Fasel was admitted to German Hospital for indigestion.^[1] Doctors removed thirteen pounds of objects from his stomach,^[4] including eighteen nails, six knives, six keys, a pocket watch chain, a keychain, two pins, and a buttonhook.^[5] Doctors claimed that the objects themselves did not farm Fasel, but their combined weight caused his stomach to sag.^[1] After the procedure, he stated that he would retire from performing.^[5]

• Michel Lotito, French entertainer with a metal-eating act