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was as like the thigh of the deer as one egg is like to another (ut 

 V2X ovo Jimilius ovum) except that its hoof was not cloven as in the 

 deer, but covered with a nail at its end like a human finger ; and 

 this thigh was moreover befet with a few hairs like thofe on a 

 hand. What degree of credit is due to this ftory it refts not with 

 me to determine : But to doubt the truth of it is not to call in 

 queflion the veracity of this great anatomift, fince he gives the 

 following hiftory of the relation : The preparation of this athe- 

 roma was given to him by Cafper Commelinus, his Collegue and 

 Profeflbr of Botany, together with an account of the cafe in the 

 hand-writing of Cornelius Smit, from whom Commelinus had 

 received it as a prefcnt. From this it would appear that the truth 

 of this ftory refts with Cornelius Smit, who had travelled with it all 

 the way from the Eaft Indies. But granting that hairs and bones 

 were really found in atheromas of the ftomach, is it not more 

 probable that thefe fubftanccs may have been fwallowed acci- 

 dentally, and generated the atheroma, than that they 'were gene- 

 rated in this tumour ? 



In oppofition to Ruyfch's opinion there is another, which is fup- 

 ported By no lefs authority than that of the fagacious Aftruc. In 

 the fecond book of the Treatife on the difeafes of Women, chapter 

 xii. article firft, § ii, he fiiys, befides t!ie common encyfted tu- 

 mours found in the ovaria, as well as in other parts, there is one 

 peculiar fpecies formed there by the putrefadion of embryos 

 which have been there conceived and have periHied. We find in 

 the ovaria, he adds, fleatomata and atheromata with bundles of 

 liair in them, which have puzzled anatomifts much to account 

 for, but I conjedure, faith Aftruc, (not without the appearance 



of 



