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In autumn 1780, I went into the north of De-» 

 vonfhire, to fpend a few weeks with a gentleman 

 who cultivated his own eftate. In October, when 

 the cold rains came on, for many days running* 

 he had one or more young fheep or lambs brought 

 in, cither dead, or in a dying ftate. They were 

 one and all much fwoln in the body, without any 

 other vilible difference from thofe that were well. 

 In the field, I obferved, they were much inclined 

 to lie ft ill, till rouzed and put up. I had feveral 

 of them brought home and laid by the fire-fide* 

 and made feveral experiments upon them, but 

 without fuccefs. At length, I had two or three 

 of them opened, to fee if I could difcover any 

 internal caufe of their malady. All the vifcera. 

 appeared to be found and perfect, without any the 

 Jeaft fign of diforder; only, as I faid, the body 

 was greatly fwoln. 



When the knife entered the belly, there flew 

 out a great quantity of rarefied air, with a eonfi- 

 derable noife, upon which the body immediately 

 fell to its natural dimenfions. As no unfound- 

 nefs appeared in any of the vifcera, I conceived 

 the expanfive vapour was probably the caufe of 

 the diforder, and the effect of obftructed pcrfpira- 

 tion, occafioned by the cold rains fo common at 

 that feafon. Upon enquiry, I found the diforder 



was 



