Chapter XIII: Part 13

But if the extravasation be confined under an aponeurosis, or if the disease has been of so long standing, as to admit of the thinner parts of the extravasated blood being absorbed, or by any other means dispersed, and the fibrous parts, which are left behind, should be accumulated in considerable quantities, and acquire so compact and solid an appearance, as to resemble brown macerated leather in their colour and texture, which I have always observed to be the case in old diseases of this kind; under these circumstances, the original symptoms of pulsation on the swelling, and a discoloration of the integuments, for the most part become imperceptible: for which reasons the true nature of the disease must be attended with a degree of uncertainty.

It must be acknowleged by all those, whose experience has given them opportunities of examining into these diseases, that the symptoms of a pulsation, and a discoloration of the teguments from extravasated blood, are not only very often wanting in old aneurisms, but in the most recent ones: which proves the non-existence of these symptoms to be no certain characteristics of tumors not being aneurismal: and the reason why this often happens may be readily explained, and conceived of, from demonstrating the very deep or low situation of many arteries, that are known to be liable to these injuries; such as the femoral arteries, the _arteriæ tibiales posticæ_, the _arteriæ peroneæ_, and some others.

Notwithstanding I have treated of pulsation on tumors, and a discoloration of the integuments or coverings of the part, when they do exist, as being the truest marks of aneurisms; yet it must not be inferred from what has hitherto been advanced, that the appearances of these symptoms are unexceptionable rules of tumors being aneurismal; seeing it does happen, that mere imposthumations, or collections of matter, arising from external as well as from internal causes, are sometimes so immediately situated upon the heart itself, and at other times upon some of its principal arteries, as to partake in the most regular manner of their contraction and dilatation (systole and diastole).

Some years ago I saw an instance of a boy, about 13 years of age, who had his breast-bone much broken by a fall. On this account he was admitted into Guy’s Hospital; but not till a fortnight after the accident happened.

Upon examination, there appeared an evident separation of the broken parts of the bone, which were removed at a considerable distance from each other: the intermediate space was occupied by a tumor of a considerable size: the integuments were of their natural complexion: the tumor had as regular a contraction and dilatation as the heart itself, or the aorta could be supposed to have.

Upon pressure, the tumor receded; upon a removal of the pressure, the tumor immediately resumed its former size and shape. All these are the distinguishing signs of a true recent aneurism. The situation and symptoms of this swelling were judged sufficient reasons for considering the nature of the disease as uncertain; on which account it was left to take its own course. The event was, the tumor burst in three weeks after his admittance, discharged a considerable quantity of matter, and the patient did well.

From what has been above advanced it is plain, if these arguments can be supported by facts, that the laying down such rules for infallibly distinguishing aneurismal tumors from tumors proceeding from very different causes, must be a matter of the greatest difficulty: and, as a further proof of their uncertainty, I take the liberty of offering the following short history of a remarkable case, which has lately occurred in my own experience.

In the month of December 1756. John Yates, aged 35 years, received an hurt upon and about his knee, by falling upon the ground from a man’s back. The accident was immediately followed with a considerable degree of lameness and pain; which upon standing or walking were greatly increased.

He continued in much the same state for about six weeks after the accident. At the end of this time, the calf or the leg was attacked with an œdematous or doughy swelling; which, in a fortnight, became so painful, as to disable him from walking. The tumor continued to increase for about eight weeks; and at length extended itself so far upwards, as to affect the greatest part of the thigh, the whole of which was attended with excessive pain, but more particularly so about the knee.

_N. B._ So far I relate from the patient’s own account.

On the 28th of April 1757. he was admitted into Guy’s Hospital under my care.

Upon examination, the thigh appeared enlarged to a very great size. The tumor was uniform, and extended from the inside of the knee to within a very small space of the groin. The integuments were in every part of their natural colour.

Upon pressing the tumor on the inside, it appeared soft, and there was a very evident fluctuation to be felt on its internal and lateral part; but there was not the least appearance of pulsation.

The tumor, on its superior and posterior parts, was of a stony hardness.

The leg, which, according to the patient’s account, had some time ago been much swelled, did not now appear to be at all so.

He was continually in great pain, and had been for some time incapable of getting any sleep. His appetite was bad. He was a good deal emaciated. He had a constant slow fever, which arose about five weeks before his admission into the hospital. He appeared pale and sallow in his complexion.

From the time of his being placed under my care to the end of ten days, there was no alteration in the swelling, or in the symptoms attending it.

In expectation therefore of affording him that relief, which could by no other means be procured, I judged it adviseable to make an opening into the tumor; which I did by incision into the most prominent and fluctuating part; upon which there immediately gushed out a large stream of thin florid blood, and at this instant discovered to me the true state of that disease; which, till now, could not be ascertained by any peculiar symptom distinguishable by the touch, or perceptible to the eye.

Seeing this, I immediately filled up the wound with lint and tow; and then proceeded, in as expeditious a manner as possible, to apply a tight bandage upon the thigh, near to the groin; and, lest this might accidentally break, I applied a second ligature below the first, and proceeded to amputate the limb upon the spot.

During the operation the man fainted, but soon recovered from this deliquium; and, without any bad symptoms, gradually recovered his rest, appetite, and strength, and is now in perfect health.

Upon a dissection of the thigh and leg, I discovered the following appearances:

A great part of the fleshy portions of two of the extensor muscles of the leg, to wit, the _vastus internus_, and _crureus_, were destroyed, with the subjacent _periosteum_.

Four of the muscles, whose uses are to bend the leg, and which compose the internal and external hamstrings; to wit, _gracilis_, _semitendinosus_, _semimembranosus_, and _biceps tibiæ_, together with that adductor and flexor muscle of the leg called _sartorius_, were removed at a considerable distance from the thigh-bone on its inferior part, and from the _tibia_ and _fibula_ on their superior parts; by which means a large bed or cavity was formed for containing the extravasation, which consisted partly of a fluid, and partly of a coagulated blood; but by far the greatest part of the coagulum had acquired so firm and fibrous a consistence and appearance, as nearly to resemble brown macerated leather in its colour and texture. The neighbouring muscles appeared livid and lacerated.

The _os femoris_ was become carious on its inferior and posterior parts; and, at about an inch distance above the condyle of that bone internally, there arose a considerable _exostosis_.

The capsular ligament of the knee-joint was become much thickened, and contained about two ounces of a viscid yellow _synovia_.

The femoral artery, on its inferior part, just above its division into _tibialis antica_ and _postica_, was diseased; which disease extended four inches upwards.

The coats of the artery were considerably thickened, and lacerated longitudinally.

The smallest diameter of the diseased part of the artery was two inches and one quarter: the largest diameter of the diseased part of the artery was two inches and one half.

Hatton-Garden,
Nov. 17. 1757.

XLV. _Farther Experiments for increasing the Quantity of Steam in a Fire-Engine. By_ Keane Fitz-Gerald, _Esq; F.R.S._

[Read Nov. 24, 1757.]

I Gave a former account to the Royal Society of some experiments made for increasing the quantity of steam in a fire-engine, by blowing air thro’ boiling water[199]. The effects then evidently produced left me, and I believe many others, who came to view the experiments, no room to doubt the seeming cause. In which error I should probably have still remained, had not farther experiments demonstrated the mistake.

Whatever apology I ought to make this learned Society, for having given in that account prematurely, I believe their great regard to truth, which has always been the basis of their researches for the improvement of natural knowlege, will require none for this. I shall therefore, as briefly as I can, relate the further experiments, that were made, which evidently demonstrate the error of the former; and from which some phænomena have occurred, perhaps hitherto unknown.

In order to try what difference the air passing thro’ a thinner body of water might occasion, I brought the horizontal pipe, which (as mentioned in the former account) was placed 12 inches under the surface of the water, to within six inches; and found, on setting the engine to work, that the leaden pipe, for the conveyance of air from the bellows into the boiler, became much hotter than I had perceived it before; which could not happen, if a constant cool air had passed thro’: and on shutting the cock, which was fixed in the leaden pipe to hinder the steam from ascending into the bellows before the engine should be set to work, tho’ no air could then possibly pass thro’, yet the bellows still continued to move with the same regularity as before; which, on examination, was found defective on the inside, where the middle board, that divides the two bodies, was warped and cracked in several places, thro’ which the air passed very regularly from one body to the other at each stroke, instead of passing thro’ the pipe into the boiler, as imagined. By this, the cause of deception was evident; which I was still in hopes of remedying, by having a new pair of bellows made, somewhat larger, and much stronger. When this was fixed, and the engine worked a few strokes, I was surprised to find the bellows did not come down, but remained fully charged with air, tho’ it had 400 lb. weight upon it; and that, on increasing the weight gradually to 1400 lb. which was as much as the bellows could support, the air was not forced thro’.

I also made several experiments, by lowering the horizontal pipe two feet under the surface of the water, and raising it at different times to within four inches of the surface, and could not at any depth force the air thro’, whilst the engine worked; but on opening the steam-pipe, which is a pipe for letting the steam pass from the boiler whenever the engine stops, the bellows could then readily force the air thro’, tho’ the water boiled ever so strong, and seemingly made a surprising increase of steam.

I had the leaden pipe to convey the air from the bellows, which was first put thro’ the top into the boiler, carried on the outside, and passed horizontally into it, about the height the water generally stands, that by opening a cock, fixed for the purpose close to the boiler, I could readily discharge all the steam lodged in the pipe; and by shutting the cock, and making small holes at three or four inches distance, I could almost find the point, where the air and steam met in opposition, cool air being strongly expelled thro’ one, and hot steam thro’ the other.

It was also perceptible, that the air was impelled somewhat, tho’ not considerably, more forward by the addition of each hundred weight on the bellows:

That the deeper the horizontal pipe was placed in the water, the less resistance was made by the steam:

That in proportion as the heat of the steam was increased, by making the water boil more strongly, the resistance to the pressure of the air by the weight on the bellows became greater.

It is a very doubtful matter, whether air forced thro’ boiling water would have answered the purpose intended: but I believe it was never imagined, that air could not be readily forced thro’, until proved by the foregoing experiments. The attempt, tho’ it has failed demonstrably in that point, has produced the same effect from another cause, as to saving coals, and throwing up more water. For, by the constant care, that was taken during the time of making these experiments, to measure the coals, to admit only a proper quantity of fuel to be laid on, and also to mark the time exactly it took in burning; the engine then did, and still continues to require eight bushels of coals less, in every 24 hours work, than it did before; and also, from the regularity of its stroke, to throw up more water; the same care being required from the engineer, who can have no pretence for consuming more coals now, than appeared sufficient during the time the experiments were making.

Tho’ some of the properties of steam are well known; yet the degrees of expansion it is capable of; whether air be mixed with, or necessary to, its formation; as also how far its power of resistance may reach; are probably not yet known, to a proper degree of exactness. Niewentit fixes the expansion of a cubical inch of water, converted into steam, at 13365, Dr. Desaguliers at 14000, and Mr. Payne at 4000 times. The great scope in this subject from a plenum to a vacuum, if I may be allowed the expression, as also the very useful purposes, to which it has already been, and possibly may be still further applied, will, I hope, be an inducement to those, who are much better qualified, to proceed in so useful an inquiry.

XLVI. _Observatio Eclipsis Lunæ Die 27_ Martii, _Ann. 1755. habita Ulissipone in Domo Patrum Congregationis Oratorii à_ Joanne Chevalier _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Regiæque_ Parisiensis _Scientiarum Academiæ correspondente_.

Tubo optico 8 pedum peracta est observatio cœlo sereno, claroque.

[Read Dec. 8, 1757.]

IMMERSIONES.

Hora postmeridiana
temporis veri.
h ’ ”
Initium penumb rædubium 10 29 50
Initium eclipsis dubium 10 33 35
Certe jam incæperat 10 34 05
Umbra ad mare humorum 10 44 00
Umbra ad Grimaldum 10 44 53
Grimaldus totus in umbra 10 47 58
Mare humorum totum in umbra 10 51 14
Thico incipit mergi 10 53 29
Thico totus mergitur 10 55 14
Umbra ad Reinholdum 11 08 04
Umbram ingreditur Copernicus 11 19 22
Umbra ad mare nectaris 11 24 52
Totum in umbra 11 33 50
Umbra ad mare tranquillitatis 11 35 24
Promontorium acutum in umbra 11 45 46

EMERSIONES.

h ’ ”
Incipit emergere ab umbra Copernicus 12 04 38
Totus Copernicus extra umbram 12 07 40
Incipit egredi Grimaldus 12 09 38
Totus Grimaldus extra umbram 12 12 38
Incipit emergere mare fœcunditatis 12 31 37
Emergit mare humorum 12 36 11
Incipit emergere Capuanus 12 39 40
Egreditur Schicardus 12 48 30
Emergit Thico 12 51 40
Totum mare nectaris egreditur 12 58 09
Finis eclipsis 13 13 02
Finis penumbræ dubius 13 16 50

XLVII. _Eclipsis Lunæ Die 4ᵃ_ Februarii, _Ann. 1757. habita Ulissipone à_ Joanne Chevalier _Presbytero Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæ_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Regiæque Scientiarum_ Parisiensis _Academiæ correspondente, et a_ Theodoro de Almeida _ejusdem Congregationis Presbytero, ac Physicæ publico Professore_.

[Read Dec. 8, 1757.]

HANC observationem peregi tubo optico novem pedes longo, cujus lens ocularis focum habebat ad 4 pollices, et lineam unam: adhibui preterea vitrum planum cæruleum, quod oculum inter et ocularem lentem interponebam, ut ingressum macularum in umbram observarem juxta ea quæ in observatione eclipsis lunæ ann. 1755. invenit clarissimus vir Josephus Soares de Barros ex regia Berolinensi academia. Primum igitur vitro cæruleo adhibito observabam ingressum maculæ in umbram, et tempore notato iterum solo tubo optico ingressum ejusdem maculæ in umbram observabam, et differentiam utriusque ingressûs notabam.

Initio eclipsis cœlum serenum ac clarum fuit, postea nubilum, et post maximam obscurationem vapores horizontis et claritas incipientis diei observationem peragere impediere.

Manè.
H. M. S.
Initium penumbræ 4 52 49
Initium dubium eclipsis 4 55 29
Certo jam incæperat 4 57 30
Umbra ad Aristarchum observata vitro
cæruleo plano 5 00 19
Solo tubo optico adhibito 5 00 50
Keplerus umbram ingreditur observatus
tubo, et vitro cæruleo plano 5 13 20
Observatus solo tubo optico 5 14 00
Plato umbram ingreditur observatus
tubo, et vitro cæruleo 5 15 2
---- Solo tubo 5 15 40
Umbra ad Eudoxum 5 17 18
Mare serenitatis incipit mergi 5 30 10
Copernicus observatus tubo et vitro
cæruleo umbram ingreditur 5 36 48
---- Solo tubo 5 37 22
Mare Crisium ingreditur umbram 5 53 51
---- Medium in umbra 5 59 30
---- Totum mergitur 6 5 21
Mare fœcunditatis occultari incipit 6 7 41
Umbra ad promontorium acutum 6 8 33
Umbra tangit mare nectaris 6 22 51
Umbra ad Langrenum 6 23 33

_Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ a_ JOANNE CHEVALIER, _&c._

ANNO 1757 telescopio Gregoriano 7 pedum nocte serenâ, nullâque lunari
luce illustratâ, observavi immersionem totalem primi satellitis die 21
Martii tempore vero postmeridiano 11ʰ 13’ 1”

Die vero 22 Martii tempore vero, et antemeridiano, observavi
immersionem totalem tertii satellitis 0ʰ 13’ 32”

XLVIII. _Observationes Eclipsium Satellitum Jovis Ulissipone habitæ à_ Joanne Chevalier, _Presbytero Congregationis Oratorii, Regiæque_ Londinensis _Societatis Socio, Anno 1757_.

[Read Dec. 8, 1757.]

TElescopio Gregoriano 7 pedum observavi emersionem primi satellitis die
7 Junii cum cœlum serenum ac clarum esset, hora postmeridiana temporis
veri 10ʰ 29’ 12”

Die 8 Junii eodem telescopio observavi emersionem secundi satellitis
hora postmeridiana 8ʰ 32’ 48”
cœlum aliquantum nubilum erat.

Eadem die observavi emersionem tertii satellitis hora postmeridiana
9ʰ 36’ 25”
cœlo claro.

Die 15 Junii cœlo claro observavi emersionem secundi satellitis hora
postmeridiana 11ʰ 6’ 15”

Sequenti die 16 Junii observavi immersionem tertii satellitis hora
matutina temporis veri 0ʰ 0’ 29”

XLIX. _A remarkable Case of the Efficacy of the Bark in a Mortification. In a Letter to_ William Watson, _M.D. F.R.S. from Mr._ Richard Grindall, _Surgeon to the_ London _Hospital_.

[Read Dec. 8, 1757.]

Austin-Friars, Dec. 7th, 1757.

SIR,

THE following case being very singular has induced me to lay it before the Royal Society, and beg the favour to do it through your means. Although numerous instances are related in the records of medicine, of the great danger in interrupting nature in her operations, there is not one (so far as I know), in which more violent and extraordinary effects have been produced, than in the following.

It may happen also, that this instance may be of service in ascertaining the virtue of the medicine in intermittents, when in the hands of men of judgment.

On the 28th of June 1757. Mary Alexander, aged 31 years, of the parish of Whitechapel, was brought into the London hospital, having a mortification in both hands, which reached about an inch and half above the wrists. All her toes, and about an inch of one foot beyond the last joint, were mortified; her nose was also intirely destroyed by a mortification; and all these happened at the same time. Upon inquiry into the cause of this misfortune, I found, that on Monday the 30th of May she was seized with a quotidian ague, which usually began about three of the clock in the afternoon, and lasted near two hours; which was succeeded by a hot fit, and then a violent sweat. And in this manner she was afflicted for seven days without any material alteration; when, being informed by a neighbour, of a person, who had an infallible remedy for the cure of an ague, she applied to him. He brought her two phials, containing about an ounce and half each, of a pale yellowish liquor; one of which he directed her to take directly, promising, that she should have no return of the fit of consequence; and that, if she had any small return, the second bottle should cure her effectually. In consequence of which, she took one dose, which was at the time the cold fit had been on about a quarter of an hour: she had no sooner swallowed it, but, as she says, her stomach was on fire, and felt as if she had swallowed the strongest dram possible. The cold fit left her instantly; but she was immediately seized with so violent a fever, as to make her burn, and be extremely thirsty, all the following night; much more so than ever she had been before, till the next morning, when a sweat a little relieved her from the violent heat. When she rose in the morning, she was much troubled with a great itching in the hands, feet, and nose; and soon after all those parts began to feel numbed, or, as she describes it, as if her hands and feet were asleep; which she took but little notice of, till the evening of that day, when she found the nails of both hands and feet were turning black, and, at the same time feeling great pain in both, as also in her nose, and that they appeared of a darkish red colour, like the skin in cold weather. Upon which, at nine o’clock that night she sent for an apothecary, from whom, I have since been informed, the person before mentioned had bought the medicine, which he gave her. The apothecary was not at home; his journeyman went, and finding the woman had a difficulty of breathing, ordered her a mixture with sperma ceti and ammoniacum to be taken occasionally. The apothecary did not see her himself till the 16th of June, when finding her in a very bad condition, that her hands, and feet, and nose, were intirely black, and had many vesicles or small bladders upon them, filled with a blackish bloody water; he opened them, and let out the fluid, and dressed them with yellow basilicon; and in this manner continued treating her till the 20th of the same month, when, finding no material alteration for the better, he ordered her a brownish mixture, of which she was to take four spoonfuls every four hours; which, he informed me, was a decoction of the bark; and says, on taking this, she was better, as the mortification seemed inclined to stop. But as it was a bad case, he advised the woman to be carried to an hospital: and in this condition was she brought in, when she was immediately put into a course of the bark, taking a drachm of the powder every four hours; and in 48 hours taking it there was a perfect separation of all the mortified parts. She was then ordered to take it only three times in 24 hours; and pursuing this method for eight days, there was a very good digestion from the parts above the mortification.

The mortified part became now so offensive, that the poor woman pressed me much to take off her hands, assuring me she would go through the operations with good courage, being very desirous to live, though in this miserable condition.

On the 12th of July I took off both her hands: I had very little more to do, than saw the bones, nature having stopped the bleeding, when she stopped the mortification. In a day or two after, I took off all the toes from both feet, and now discontinued the bark, the parts appearing in a healthy and healing condition; which went on so for five weeks, when, on a sudden, the parts began to look livid, her stomach failed her, and she was feverish; but, upon taking an ounce of the bark, in 36 hours her sores began again to look well. She was not suffered to leave off the bark so soon this time, but continued taking it twice a day for a month. She is now almost well: that part of her face, from whence the nose mortified, was healed in seven weeks; the stumps of both arms are intirely healed; and both feet are well, only waiting for one piece of bone scaling off, which I believe will be in a very short time; and she is now in good health.

The person, who gave her this medicine, is a Barber and Peruke-maker at Bow. I applied to him several times, to inform me what it was he had given her. The affair was talked of so much in his neighbourhood, and the man threatned by the woman’s husband, that for a long time I could not get him to tell me, till I told him, I had been informed where he bought the medicines; and the time of the day, that he had them, corresponding with the time of his giving them to the woman, and that I knew it was tincture of myrrh, he at last told me, that he had frequently given the above quantity of an ounce and half of it in an ague; that it had never done any harm; and hardly ever failed to cure. Upon which information, I carried some tincture of myrrh to the woman, who tasted it, and is well assured it is the same liquor the barber gave her in her ague-fit.

I am, with respect,

Your obliged and obedient Servant.
Richard Grindall.

L. _A Letter to the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D.D. Secret. R.S. from_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S. inclosing Two Papers communicated to him by_ Robert Whytt, _M.D. F.R.S._

[Read Dec. 15, 1757.]

Pallmall-Court, St. James’s, Dec. 10. 1757.

SIR,

ABOUT three weeks ago I put into your hands an extract of a letter, I had then received from Dr. Whytt, containing a postscript to his _Observations on Lord_ Walpole’_s Case_; and slightly mentioning some doubts he had then about the justness of Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments with lime-water, from some trials he himself had made, upon reading that gentleman’s curious treatise on the extraordinary lithontriptic quality of the waters at Carlsbad in Bohemia. Within these few Days, Dr. Whytt having favoured me with a full account of those experiments, I have herewith sent you his paper, in order, if you please, to lay it before the Society; which the author desires may be done, in case these observations should be judged useful.

The other paper inclosed was sent me by the same hand, to be likewise presented to the Society, as a well-attested instance of the electrical power in the cure of a palsy. To the other testimonies I have subjoined what Dr. Whytt says in his letter to me, by way of strengthening the evidence. I shall only add, that since Mr. Brydone, the author of this account, has omitted telling how long the patient has continued in perfect health since the operation, it appears she must have been well for some months before the date of his paper; because, before the end of last summer, Dr. Whytt transmitted the same case to me, which I then returned, in order to have it drawn up in a fuller manner, and with other vouchers besides the gentleman, who performed the cure. The Doctor has been so good as to comply with my request, having procured a more ample account of the circumstances from Mr. Brydone, and the attestation of two ministers, besides that of the patient herself.[200] My difficulties being thus removed, I believe I may now with freedom offer this very curious case to the attention of the Society.

I am,

SIR,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
John Pringle.

_Postscript to Dr._ Whytt’_s Observations on Lord_ Walpole’_s Case_[201].

[Read Dec. 8, 1757.]

“I Do not know, if it be worth while to observe, that lately, in making some experiments with different _calculi_, there was one almost as white as chalk, but of a less hard substance than the others; and which was not in the least degree dissolved or softned by being infused 20 days in oystershell lime-water, but yielded somewhat to a solution of Spanish soap in common water.

From this experiment one may conclude, that it is better to prescribe both soap and lime-water for the stone, than any one of them alone; and that if one of these remedies has failed of giving relief, the other ought to be tried: for as the above white _calculus_, which yielded a little to the solution of soap, resisted lime-water; so there may perhaps be others, that are readily dissolved by lime-water, but little affected by soap.

Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments with lime-water are somehow not just; for in several _calculi_ I have found the dissolving power of oystershell lime-water above eight times greater than he makes it.”

_Some Observations on the lithontriptic Virtue of the_ Carlsbad _Waters, Lime-water, and Soap: In a Letter to Dr._ John Pringle, _F.R.S. from Dr._ Robert Whytt, _F.R.S. and Professor of Medicine in the University of_ Edinburgh.

[Read Dec. 15, 1757.]

SIR,

FROM the experiments related in Dr. Springsfeld’s _Commentatio de prærogativa thermarum Carolinarum, &c._ which you were so good as to send me some time ago, it appears, that these waters are not only possessed of a very extraordinary power of dissolving the stone, but that in this respect they greatly exceed lime-water.

(A) Thus, Dr. Springsfeld having infused, for 14 Days, in a heat of 96 degrees of Fahrenheit’s scale, three pieces of the same _calculus_, each weighing 30 grains, in eggshell lime-water, the Carlsbad water, and in the urine of one who daily drank this last water, renewing these several menstruums every day, he found, on the 15th day, that the _calculus_ in the lime-water had lost 1 grain, the _calculus_ in the Carlsbad water 6 grains, and that in urine 5 grains.

(B) Again, having divided another _calculus_ into four parts, each of which was reduced to 80 grains, he put the first in oystershell lime-water, the second in Carlsbad water, and the third in the urine of a person who drank this water. After 20 days, during which time the menstruums were renewed every day, and kept in a heat of 96 degrees, the dried _calculi_ had lost of their weight as follows: the first 3 grains, the second 18 grains, and the third 14 grains.

Altho’ I make no doubt that Dr. Springsfeld, who appears to be a man of candour, as well as learning, has faithfully related the event of the experiments, which he made; yet either the lime-water he used must have been very weak, or some other mistake must have happened in his experiments: for in all the numerous trials I made, about 15 years ago, of lime-water, as a solvent for the stone, I always found its dissolving power much greater, than it appears in Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments. And as in these trials different urinary stones were used, it can scarcely be imagined, that it was owing to the peculiar hardness of Dr. Springfeld’s _calculi_, that the lime-water made so little impression on them. However, to be still further satisfied of this matter, I made the following experiments.

1. I put a piece of a very hard _calculus_, which I shall call _x_, weighing 80 grains, in oystershell lime-water, renewing the lime-water every day, and keeping it in a heat between 90 and 106 degrees of Fahrenheit’s scale. After 20 days, I took out the _calculus_; and having set it by for some days, till it was become quite dry, I brushed away all the rotten part of it, which was reduced to a kind of chalky powder, and found that the undissolved part of it weighed 57 grains.

2. At the same time a piece of another _calculus_, _z_, weighing 15 grains, was, after a like infusion of 20 days in oystershell lime-water, reduced to 10 grains.

3. I put a piece of _z_, weighing 14 grains, in a solution of half an ounce of the internal part of Spanish soap in nine ounces of water, and every third day renewed the solution, which was kept in a heat of about 60 degrees. After 14 days, I found the undissolved part not to exceed 11 grains.

4. A piece of a white chalky _calculus_, _y_, weighing 30 grains, had near 4 grains of its substance dissolved, by being 14 days infused as above in a solution of soap.

From Nº. 1. above, compared with Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (B), it appears, that the dissolving power of oystershell lime-water is to that of the Carlsbad water as 23 to 18, supposing the _calculi_ used in these experiments to have been equally easy to dissolve.

Nº. 3. compared with Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A), shews, that the dissolving power of a solution of the inner part of Spanish soap, in a heat of 60 degrees, is to that of the Carlsbad water, in a heat of 96 degrees, as 15 to 14.

From Nº. 4. compared with (A), the dissolving power of soap is to that of the Carlsbad water only as 4 to 6; but it is probable, that had the solution of soap been kept in a heat of 96 degrees, its dissolving power would, even in this experiment, have nearly equalled that of the Carlsbad water. It may, perhaps, be worth while to observe, that a piece of the white chalky _calculus_ of Nº 4. was not in the smallest degree dissolved by lying in lime-water 20 days.

5. In Exper. 19. of my Essay on the Virtue of Lime-water, a piece of a _calculus_, _b_, weighing 31 grains, lost 7 grains by being infused 36 hours, in a heat of above 100 degrees, in very strong oistershell lime-water. And in the same water, of a moderate strength, another piece of _b_ lost, in the same time, 5 grains.

In this last experiment, the lithontriptic virtue of lime-water appears to be stronger than in Nº. 1. and 2. above; and greatly exceeds that of the Carlsbad water in Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A) and (B).

But altho’, from what has been said, it appears not only that lime-water, but also a solution of soap, dissolves the stone in close vessels as fast, nay faster, than the _thermæ Carolinæ_; yet these last waters, when the _calculi_ were so placed in open vessels, that the water from the fountain might constantly flow along them, effected a much quicker dissolution than lime-water, or even soap-lye, or indeed any known menstruum, except, perhaps, strong spirit of nitre: for, in the first experiment made by Dr. Springsfeld, a _calculus_ of two ounces and a half was, in this manner, quite dissolved in six days. From this experiment, compared with that of Dr. Springsfeld mentioned above (B), it will be found, upon calculation, that the dissolving power of the Carlsbad water, when it is allowed to flow constantly from the fountain along the stone, is nearly 39 times greater than when it is only poured fresh on the _calculus_ once a day[202]. What may have been the reason of this surprising difference of the lithontriptic power of the Carlsbad water in these different circumstances, I will not pretend to say. I think it can scarcely be accounted for from the gentle motion of the water along the surface of the _calculus_. Was it then owing to some very volatile active part, which the water quickly loses, after being taken from the fountain?

But how great soever the dissolving power of the Carlsbad waters may be, when they issue from the bowels of the earth, yet that they do not communicate a much greater dissolving power to the urine, than lime-water, will appear from comparing the two following experiments.

In Dr. Springsfeld’s Exper. (A) above, the urine of a person, who drank the Carlsbad waters, reduced, in 14 days, a piece of _calculus_, weighing 30 grains, to 25 grains. And in an experiment made by Dr. Newcome, now Lord Bishop of Llandaff, who drank four English pints of oystershell lime-water daily, his Lordship’s urine reduced, in four months, a piece of _calculus_, weighing 31 grains, to three small bits, weighing in all 6 grains[203]. Whence it follows, that the dissolving power of his Lordship’s urine must have been to the dissolving power of the urine of the person who drank the Carlsbad waters nearly as 35 to 65[204]. But if we consider, that the _calculus_ infused in the urine of the person who drank the Carlsbad waters was kept always in a heat of 96 degrees, while in Dr. Newcome’s experiment, which was made during part of the autumn and winter, no artificial heat was used, it will appear probable, that the dissolving power of his Lordship’s urine was little inferior to that of the person who drank the Carlsbad waters; for lime-water, in a heat of 96 degrees, dissolves the _calculus_ at least twice as fast, as in the common heat of the air in winter. Further, if it be attended to, that the quantity of Carlsbad waters drank every day before dinner is from six to eight lib. while his Lordship only drank four lib. of lime-water in 24 hours, it will follow, that whatever the different dissolving powers of the lime-water and Carlsbad waters may be out of the body, yet the former seems, in proportion to the quantity drank, to communicate at least an equal dissolving power to the urine.

But without presuming to decide certainly, as to the comparative virtue of the Carlsbad waters and lime-water, I shall conclude with observing, that tho’ the Carlsbad waters are less disagreeable to the taste, and may be drank in larger quantity, than lime-water, yet this last may be drank equally good in all places, and at all seasons of the year; which is not the case with the Carlsbad waters.

November 30. 1757.

_An Instance of the Electrical Virtue in the Cure of a Palsy. By Mr._ Patrick Brydone.

[Read Dec. 15, 1757.]

ELizabeth Foster, aged 33, in poor circumstances, unmarried, about 15 years ago was seized with a violent nervous fever, accompanied with an asthma, and was so ill, that her life was despaired of. She recovered however from the violence of her distemper, but the sad effects of it remained. For, from this time, she continued in a weakly uncertain state of health till the month of July, 1755, when she was again taken ill of the same kind of fever; and after it went off she was troubled with worse nervous symptoms than ever, ending at last in a paralytic disorder, which sometimes affected the arm, sometimes the leg, of the left side; in such a manner as that these parts, tho’ deprived of all motion for the time, yet still retained their sensibility. In this condition she remained till the spring 1756, when unexpectedly she grew much better; but not so far as to get quite rid of her paralytic complaints; which, in cold weather, seldom failed to manifest themselves by a numbness, trembling, sensation of cold, and a loss of motion in the left side.

This paralytic tendency made her apprehensive of a more violent attack; which accordingly soon happened: for, about the end of August, in the same year, her symptoms gradually increased, and in a very short time she lost all motion and sensation in her left side. In this state she continued throughout last winter with the addition of some new complaints; for now her head shook constantly; her tongue faltered so much, when she attempted to speak, that she could not articulate a word; her left eye grew so dim, that she could not distinguish colours with it; and she was often seized with such an universal coldness and insensibility, that those who saw her at such times scarce knew whether she was dead or alive.

Whilst the woman was in this miserable condition, observing that she had some intermissions, during which she could converse and use her right leg and arm, in one of those intervals I proposed trying to relieve her by the power of electricity. With this view, I got her supported in such a manner as to receive the shocks standing, holding the phial in her right hand, whilst the left was made to touch the gun-barrel. After receiving several very severe shocks, she found herself in better spirits than usual; said she felt a heat, and a prickling pain in her left thigh and leg, which gradually spread over all that side; and after undergoing the operation for a few minutes longer, she cried out, with great joy, that she felt her foot on the ground.

The electrical machine producing such extraordinary effects, the action was continued; and that day the woman patiently submitted to receive above 200 shocks from it. The consequence was, that the shaking of her head gradually decreased, till it intirely ceased; that she was able at last to stand without any support; and on leaving the room quite forgot one of her crutches, and walked to the kitchin with very little assistance from the other. That night she continued to be well and slept better than she had done for several months before, only about midnight she was seized with a faintishness, and took notice of a strong sulphureous taste in her mouth; but both faintness and that taste went off, upon drinking a little water. Next day, being electrised as before, her strength sensibly increased during the operation, and when that was over she walked easily with a stick, and could lift several pounds weight with her left hand, which had been so long paralytic before. The experiment was repeated on the third day; by which time she had received in all upwards of 600 severe shocks. She then telling us that she had as much power in the side that had been affected as in the other, we believed it unnecessary to proceed farther as the electricity had already, to all appearance produced a compleat cure. And indeed the patient continued to be well till the Sunday following, _viz_. about three days after the last operation; but upon going that day to church, she probably catched cold; for on Monday she complained of a numbness in her left hand and foot; but, upon being again electrised, every symptom vanished, and she has been perfectly well ever since.

Coldingham, Nov. 1757.

Patrick Brydone.

That the above is a true and exact account of my case, and of the late wonderful cure wrought on me, is attested by

Elizabeth Foster.

I was eye witness to the electrical experiments made by my son on Elizabeth Foster, and saw with pleasure their happy effects. By the blessing of God accompanying them, from a weak, miserable, and at sometimes almost an insensible state, she was, in a very short time, restored to health and strength; of which the above is in every respect a true account.

Robert Brydone,
Minister of Coldingham.

_Extract of a Letter from Dr._ Whytt _to Dr._ Pringle, _relating to this Account: Dated_ Edinburgh, _1 Dec. 1757_.

SOME days ago I had transmitted to me Mr. Brydone’s account (inclosed) of the success of the electrical shocks in a paralytic patient, attested by the patient herself, and by Mr. Brydone’s father, who is minister at Coldingham, in the shire of Berwick. At the same time I had a letter from the Reverend Mr. Allan, Minister of Eymouth (in the neighbourhood), informing me, that he had examined the patient particularly, and found Mr. Brydone’s account to be perfectly true. He further informs me, that he never observed the electrical shock so strong from any machine, as from Mr. Brydone’s. It seems, that gentleman has not only applied himself to the study of natural philosophy, but also of medicine.

Robert Whytt.

LI. _An Account of some fossile Fruits, and other Bodies, found in the Island of_ Shepey. _By_ James Parsons, _M.D. F.R.S._

_To the Right Honourable the_ EARL _of_ MACCLESFIELD, President _of the_ Royal Society.

[Read Dec. 15, 1757.]

Sept. 25, 1757.

My Lord,

BEING ever desirous to promote the business of this learned Society, I could not lose the opportunity that presented, of laying before you an account, and drawings (_See_ TAB. XV. _&_ XVI.), of a most curious parcel of fossil fruits, and some other bodies, sent me from Shepey-Island, by my ingenious friend Mr. Jacob, of Faversham, Surgeon, and Fellow of the Antiquary Society.

I do not remember, that fossil seeds, or fruits, are recorded in our Transactions, tho’ many of other kinds have places in them; nor indeed that the memoirs of other academies have made mention of any such fruits; and therefore, as these are chiefly pyritical, and consequently liable to fall to pieces, I thought it necessary to make drawings of them while in a sound state, in order for engraving, if the Society shall think fit; lest their being so subject to moulder away might put it out of my power to preserve their forms. However, I have great hopes I shall be able to preserve the greater part of them intire till they are shewed to the Society.

In describing these bodies, we shall be obliged to make the best conjectures we can of some of them only; for several are sufficiently obvious to every naturalist, and easily known by comparing them to such recent fruits, as are frequent enough among us. Some of them are absolutely exotics; and indeed they are all rare and curious, and, in my humble opinion, well worth the notice of the Royal Society.

Doctor Woodward’s catalogue[205], which is so ample and full of all kinds of fossil bodies, has only a very few fruits; and these are only some hazle nuts found in different places, a few pine-cones, and laryxes; and one fruit, which was taken for an unripe nutmeg. In this collection before us they are all very different, and such as have not been seen before.

It will not be amiss, in this place, to give a short detail of such bodies as are capable of either being petrified themselves, or of leaving their impressions in stony matter. By being petrified, is meant being impregnated with stony, pyritical, or any other metalline or sparry matter; for there are inumerable specimens, wherein all these are apparent.

TESTACEOUS _and_ CRUSTACEOUS ANIMALS.

The shelly matter of these is of so compact and dry a nature, that they will endure for ages: and if in a soil or bed where moisture has access, they will receive stony matter into their pores, and become ponderous in proportion to the quantity imbibed. If in a dry place, they will remain fair and sharp, suffering very little change by any length of time; whilst the flesh of these, being subject to putrifaction, is soon destroyed; and yet, according to circumstances that happen, some of these may be replaced in due form by stony particles. I have a gryphites, with the form of the fish in its place, as is the case in several of the oyster kinds. This may be occasioned by the shells being close, or nearly so, and stony matter gradually insinuating into their cavity, so as to fill up the whole.

WOOD.

The kinds of wood found fossil are very different: some are of a firmer texture than others: and this too is according to the places wherein they are deposited. Some I have seen so highly impregnated with a fine stony and pyritical matter, as to bear a polish like a pebble; some, tho’ quite reduced to stone, yet preserving the fibrous appearance of the original state; and some which is found in boggy bottoms, being not at all changed, except in color: this is called bog oak, or bog deal, well known to country people in many places of these three kingdoms, who light themselves about their business with slips of this wood, cut on purpose instead of candles, as it burns with a clear and durable flame. It is remarkable, that altho’ oak or fir shall lie ages immersed in water under ground, it shall not putrify; but acquire such sulphureous particles by lying in steep, in the bog-water, as to qualify it for this use. Other wood, deposited in marly ground, is found incrusted over, trunk and branches, with a white crust; the wood remaining intire within. At other times, wood thus incrusted shall be eroded by the matter which covers it, having something acrimonious in its substance. We may add to these, clusters of the twigs of shrubs, and small wood, which we find flakes of, incrusted with sparry or calcarious matter, in many places; parts of which are totally changed into that matter, whilst others are only inveloped with it.

BONES _of_ ANIMALS.

We see, by every day’s experience, that the human skeleton moulders to dust in a very few years, when buried in mould: so it does even in vaults, where the coffins are kept dry. In the first case, the moisture and salts of the earth divide and dissolve the texture of the bones; in the latter, those of the air, which gradually insinuate themselves into them, and at length destroy them. How long a skeleton whose bones are well dried and prepared, being totally deprived of its medullary substance, will last, as we now order them for anatomical purposes, we cannot say: but it may be reasonably conjectured, that they will undergo the fate of the softer kinds of wood, such as beech, which grows rotten in no great number of years; because their internal substance is spungy and cellular, and their crust is very thin, except about the middle of the bones of the arm and thigh, I mean the humerus and fœmur. The same destruction would happen, if bodies were deposited in a sandy soil; because water finds its way either by dripping downwards, or by springs underneath. But human skeletons have been found intire within a rock, where neither moisture nor air could get at them. Mr. Minors, an eminent Surgeon and Anatomist of the Middlesex-hospital, when he was in the Army, at Gibraltar, saw an intire skeleton, standing upright, in a dry rock, part of which had been blown up with gunpowder, in carrying on some works in the fortifications, which left the skeleton quite exposed. Indeed, the bones of Elephants have been found in Shepey-Island, but much destroyed, several of which I have in my Collection; an account of which we have in the last volume but one[206] of our Transactions; their size and substance being so considerable, as to resist for a long time that decay which those of the human could not withstand. To these we may add the horns of large animals, as the elk, and others, which have been found in bogs, preserved as the bog-oak, _&c._ mentioned.

TEETH _and_ PALATES _of_ FISHES _and other Animals_.

These are of so hard and firm a texture, as to suffer no great change, wheresoever found; for we see, that no erosion appears in them, their enamel and its polish being intirely preserved; yet sometimes their roots will be found changed, especially in the yellow ones, having no enamel to guard them in their roots.

_Parts of_ VEGETABLES.

The leaves of plants, whose fibres are firm and dry, will endure for a long time; but those of a succulent nature never can, as they putrify very soon. We see the leaves of ferns of several kinds, polypodium, tricomanes, and other capillary plants, with nodules of stone formed about them; flags, reeds, rushes, equisetum, and many such, of a firm texture, are found in slate and stone; and even the iuli of trees are said to have been found fossil as well as their leaves.

SEEDS _and_ FRUITS.