isi) HISrORT of the SOCIE-Ti: 



Account of mentioned, who followed lus profeflion for upwards of five and 



twenty years before his death, and who, by being obhgcd to 

 life his arm, acquired the motion of the new joint fooner than 

 if he had been under no fuch neceffity. 



" It is a matter of importance to afcertain when the changes, 

 wj have defcribed, take place. I imagine the recent ftate may 

 continue for a fortniglit or three weeks : But flill we wane ob- 

 fervations to point out when the mulcles become completely 

 adapted to the new fituation of the bones; when the glenoid ca- 

 vity begins to lofe its ihape, and the ligament to adhere to it ; 

 and, particularly, when the furface of the fcapula begins to be- 

 come hollowed and fmooth, fo as to receive the head of the hu- 

 merus. Thefe, however, may be guefled at, by the quality and 

 degree of motion enjoyed in the diflocated joiiit. Were thefe 

 points fully afcertained, they would guide us in our prac?tice, 

 and prevent attempts being made to reduce old dillocations, 

 where the furgeon, from want of knowledge of the procefs car- 

 rying on by nature to form a new joint, and the obliteration of 

 the old cavity, racks the patient's limbs to no purpofe; and even 

 fliould he be fuccefsful, he might be liiid not to reduce, but 

 really to diilocate, as he deftroys a new joint beginning to en- 

 joy motion, and throws the end of the bone on a furface which 

 has now loft every thing necelfary to make it a part of a joint." 



Mr Hamilton had cccaCon once to open the chefl of a 

 LfiJf, who had water in her breall. The quantity at firfl 

 drav/n off amounted to lixteen ounces ; a great deal oozed out 

 afterwards, and fome of the fymptions were for a little relieved, 

 but the patient died in a few weeks. On the beft manner of 

 performing this operation, he makes the following remarks : 



" In Mr Bell's mode of operating, which I here followed, 

 fimply drawing off the water, and avoiding every thing that may 

 bring on inflammation on the cavity, is not fufHciently kept in 

 view. An extraneous body, a canula, is introduced and kept in 



for 



