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The Man Who Lost An Eye After His Prized Pet Duck Exploded
A curious bird resulted in a gruesome accident for himself and owner
No matter how sophisticated society has become over the years, we always have to be on the constant watch for our safety due to the many unexpected dangers that are in our way at all times. In 1910, an Iowa man found that out the hard way after he lost an eye after his prized pet duck named Rhadamanthus exploded in his arms.
Cedar Grove Iowa saw one of the strangest incidents between a pet and its owner in recorded history. In 1910, Silas Perkins had a pet Keokuk duck named Rhadamanthus that he raised to show. It was so beloved that it was generally allowed to walk around the house and property without limitations. In return, the bird brought back good notoriety for its owner. In fact, just weeks before the fateful incident, it had won a prize at the Iowa poultry show.
It was reported by various newspapers that shortly after the victory, Perkins came home from church one Sunday to see the duck bloated and tottering around in obvious distress. Investigating, the man discovered that Thadamanthus had eaten liberally from a pan of yeast that had been carelessly left on the back porch to let it bloom. The resulting fermentation expanded rapidly in the animal’s stomach, making it a…
