Guinea Pig Zero by Robert Helms

Author:Robert Helms
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1-891053-84-1
Publisher: Garrett County Press

The stomach experiments began in May 1825, and the subject traveled with his employer to Fort Niagara, NY; Burlington, VT; and then Plattsburgh, NY. Then the robust Alexis decided he’d exposed his accidental aperture to enough intrusions for one year, and skipped out to make his way home to Berthier. Here he married Marie Joly, and together they had six children: Alexis Jr., Charles, Henriette, Marie, and two whose names are not recorded in any published records. Taking up his old fur trading profession with another firm, he remained in Canada for four years until the diligent Dr. Beaumont tracked him down through St. Martin’s former employer, American Fur Company. These agents hired the great guinea pig on Beaumont’s behalf and transported him and his family nearly 2,000 miles by boat to Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (in those days an extremely rugged trip). They arrived in August, 1829, and the doctor happily observed that no change had developed in the precious hole during his subject’s absence. The St. Martin family remained at Fort Crawford almost for two years and had two of their six children there. The second series of experiments was performed at Fort Crawford under the same arrangement as before, i.e. with Alexis as human guinea pig and general servant for Beaumont.

It was probably at Fort Crawford that an incident occurred between Alexis’ brother Etienne and a Charlie Charette, who had been ridiculing “the man with the lid on his stomach.” According to an anecdote passed down from a neighbor, Etienne stabbed the tormentor, wounding him “quite severely,” and swore that he would “kill the whole brigade” if they didn’t lay off his brother. Alexis and his family departed in March, 1831, apparently because of Mrs. St. Martin’s “homesickness and discontent.” In later years Beaumont reminded his subject of the

embarrassment and interruption that have occurred heretofore to the prosecution of my experiments upon you on account of having your family with you [at Prairie du Chien]… you know your wife became so discontented and determined to go back that you were obliged to yield to her and disappoint me.

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