150 "^^^ E. Home on the Formation of Fat 



there from the absorbents under the influence of disease, not 

 acting so as to take it into the constitution. 



Ambergris is found in lumps from fourteen to more than 

 one hundred pounds each ; it is not to be distinguished in its 

 appearance from the fasces, but when exposed to the air, it 

 grows hard: a lump has been found in the sea weighing one 

 hundred and eighty-two pounds.* 



In the human colon, sohd masses of fat are sometimes met 

 with in a diseased state of that canal, and are called scybala; 

 these are in all respects similar to ambergris. 



Concretions of olive oil and mucus found in the human in- 

 testines must be formed in the same way. A case of this 

 kmd was communicated to me by our associate Dr. Babington 

 in the following letter : 



" My dear Sir, 



17, Aldermanbury, Feb. 2, 1S13. 



" The following are the circumstances relating to the 

 " change produced upon olive oil, by passing through the 

 " stomach and intestines of the elderly person, whose case I 

 " mentioned to you at the last meeting of our Animal Che- 

 ** mistry Society. The lady, in question, had for several years 

 " past suffered from severe affections of the stomach, which, 

 " from the attendant symptoms, were considered as occa- 

 *' sioned by the irritation of biliary concretions. Many reme- 

 " dies having been resorted to without affording her other 

 " than temporary benefit, she was advised to try the effects 

 " of olive oil, taken to the quantity of two or three ounces at 

 " a time, and to be repeated as circumstances might require. 

 ** From this she experienced almost immediate rehef, and, on 



• Vide Phil. Trans. 1783. 



