PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. ^19 



was black and inky ; and, on difledling 

 away the black cellular membrane, the 

 mufcular or fibrous coat of the inteftine 

 appeared moftly of its natural colour; 

 though in fome places, in one fubjed:, this 

 blackifh matter, or diflblved blood, feem- 

 ed to be dilFufed through the cellular 

 membranes which connecfted together the 

 muf(;ular fibres of the redlum. In two 

 fubjeds, I obferved a few black fpots on 

 the outfide of the great guts, which were 

 occafioned by a diffufion of the fame fort 

 of black liquors into the cellular mem- 

 branes below the peritoneum ; but there 

 were no erofions of the membranes to 

 be feen at fuch places. 



In fome of the fubjecfls I examined, 

 the black fpots and erofions of the vil- 

 lous coat of the inteftine were very fre- 

 quent ; and I had a figure drawn of part 

 of the colon and re(5lum which was found 

 in this ftate, in a patient who died in 

 St George's hofpital ; and I permitted 

 the late Dr Stark, to whom I Ihewed 

 thefe erofions of the inteilines and com- 

 eaunicalcd my obfcrvations, to have a 



Qopper- 



