‘PHYSICAL anv LITERARY, 353 
_ creafe the poor man’s torture to an into- 
lerable degree. 
Finp1NG thus the extenfion of no fig- 
_nificancy; and the patient’s courage re- 
viving after fome refpite; the vis percu/fio- 
nis was carried into execution after the 
following manner: The towel-men were 
directed to flacken their towels to a cer- 
tain point, to ftand with their feet firm, 
their arms ftreight, and their bodies 
bending a little forward; and, upon a 
_ Certain fignal agreed on, were ordered to 
pull with a vehement and quick jerk, 
throwing themfelves back with all their 
might. 
AFTER every thing was in good order, 
and the affiftants apprifed of the nature 
and neceflity of the operation which they 
were about to perform, the fignal agreed 
was at laft given. The towel-men pulled 
in a moment with a {trong and fudden 
pring; the furgeons performed their 
“parts dexteroufly ; and imftantly there 
was a loud crafh heard, which made one 
f ithe phyficians call out, Alas! the ta- 
Dle is broken, But at that very moment 
Vou Ii, X y the 
