On the propagation and rapid incrcnfe of the common Fly : the 

 manner in ivhich the common Nettle produces pain and infiam- 

 viation explained. 



A SURGEON of fome eminence in thefe parts, happening to meet 

 with me, lliewed me a piece of glandulous or fungous fubftance, 

 about the fize of a finger's nail, which he had taken from the dif- 

 eafed leg of a certain gentlewoman, whofe leg from the foot to above 

 the knee, had for fome years been uncommonly covered with thofe 

 kind of tumors, and he told me, that having waflaed this fubllance 

 in brandy, and afterwards cut it open, he had perceived in it a num- 

 ber of minute maggots : thefe he produced to me, but they were 

 fo fmall, that I could not diftinguiili them without my fpedacles. 

 A piece of this fubllance was put into my hands by the furgeon, 

 in order that I might examine into the nature of thofe maggots. 



Upon my return home, I examined them by the microfcope, 

 and was immediately convinced that they had been produced from 

 eggs laid by fome Fly upon the difeafed part, and I had no doubt, 

 that from them would be produced other Flies of the fame fpecies 

 with that which had laid the eggs. This I commxinicated to the 

 furgeon, who, at firft, did not give much credit to it, as not being 

 able to conceive how any Fly could find its way to the part to lay 

 thofe eggs. 



In purfuit of my inquiries, concluding that the piece of flefli on 

 which thefe maggots were found, would very foon be confumed by 

 them, 1 fupplied them with other pieces of meat, which they alfo 

 devoured ; and I continued to feed them with frcfh meat until the 

 fifth day, which was the lall day, when, preparing again to feed 



Vol. II. K k 



