OF HYDATIDS. 389 



(lium were likewise in a sound state, but the texture of the left 

 lobe of the lungs was in a great degree destroyed by suppurac 

 tion. 



" In tracing the course of the great cyst, already spoken of 

 as filling the left side of the abdomen, we found it perforating, as 

 it were, the diaphragm, and then expanding again, adhering to 

 the pleura and mediastinum, and filling almost the whole of the 

 left cavity of the thorax. The upper part of this sac communi- 

 cated in several places with the diseased lungs, and on pressing 

 the latter, matter flowed into the cyst. We introduced a probe 

 into one of these passages, and it passed far enough into the sub- 

 stance of the lungs to account for the expectoration of pus through 

 these channels. 



" If the patient had lived much longer, it is possible sho 

 would have coughed up hydatids, as one of the openings from the 

 cyst into the lungs was large enough to admit a goose quill." 

 This affords an additional, and very strong illustration of a par- 

 tial absorption taking place in that bowel within which hydatids 

 were lodged, and ofthe formation of an unnatural passage, through 

 which the hydatids might have escaped into a branch of the wind- 

 pipe. The case recorded by Dr. Collet in the second volume of 

 the Trans, ofthe college of physicians of London, forms an im- 

 portant appendix to the former case, for in this instance, the hy- 

 datyds, which were originally lodged within the liver, were dis- 

 charged by coughing. It is stated, there was at first observed, 

 •' an irregular tumour, not very large, seated in the lower part of 

 the epigastrium, about four or five fingers in breadth, below the 

 xiphoid cartilage, extending itself towards the right hypochon- 

 drium. 



" In the most prominent part of it, a fluid is distinctly per- 

 ceived, which seems to be immediately under the common in- 

 teguments.'' 



" Dr. Buker^ who has subjoined his remarks on the case, haa 

 ohserved ; ' If then a conjecture on a subject, which is at pres- 

 ent obscure, and which admits of no demonstration, may be 

 hazarded ; is it not possible, that, by the gradual operation of 

 37 



