152 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1674. 



j4n Account of a remarkable Case of a Dropsy mistaken for Pregnancy in a young 

 Woman \ in which the Observations made on the same Case by Dr. Tulpius* 

 are considerably enlarged. N° 110, p. 131. 



Some years since, there came to Dr. D. in Holland, a young woman of about 

 17 years of age, unmarried, and reputed a maid, of a florid countenance, and 

 strong body, having a good stomach, periodice menstruata, and wanting none 

 of other due evacuations ; not troubled witli head-ach nor sleepiness, nor dif- 

 ficulty of breathing, nor drought, nor any of the symptoms incident to hydro- 

 pical persons. This young woman having her belly swollen to excess in three 

 months time, was much suspected by him of incontinence; which yet with 

 many imprecations she denied, though in vain : the physician disbelieving her 

 assertions, and particularly that she had her periodical discharges, because she 

 looked so well, nor had any signs of an hydropical distemper upon her, except 

 the tumor of her belly, which being felt, afforded some considerable signs to 

 dispossess the physician of the opinion he had of this person ; seeing it was not 

 a prominent nor roundish tumor, nor any such as is usual in women with child ; 

 besides her urine was not such as is usual to childbearing women: yet there ap- 

 pearing no symptoms of a dropsy, the physician sent her away, without giving 

 or prescribing her any physic. Yet she returned soon after, im.portuning him 

 to give her his advice against the dropsy. He consulting with other physicians 

 about it, found them as distracted between both, as he himself was. Yet some 

 of them, inclining rather to the opinion of a dropsy, with appropriate medicines 

 made her void abundance of water, yet without reducing her belly. In 6 months, 

 after consulting other doctors without effect, her body was dried and bloodless, 

 her breath short, her temples fallen in, her nose sharp, her eyes hollow, her 



* Nicolas Tulpius was born at Amsterdam in 1593, and was educated at Leyden, After taking 

 his degree of M. D. in that university, he returned to his native city, and soon got into first-rate 

 practice there. Being a man of great integrity, sound judgment, and extensive inforaaation, not only 

 in matters appertaining to his profession, but in others also not immediately connected therewith, he 

 was elected a member of the senate and burgomaster. In this capacity he rendered tlie most essential 

 services to his country; for, in l672, when the victorious army of Lewis XIV. had penetrated witli- 

 in 9 miles of Amsterdam, and the inhabitants, seized with a panic, were preparing to evacuate the 

 place, he boldly stepped forth, although at the advanced age of 79, and in a firm and energetic 

 harangue exhorted his countrymen to stand fast and defend their capital to the utmost extremity. 

 This address had the desired effect. The soldiers and citizejis returned to their posts 3 the garrison 

 was well served ; the guardships which lay in the harbour were quickly manned; tlie sluices were 

 opened; Amsterdam was saved — ^This> venerable magistrate and excellent physician died in l674, 

 aged 81. His Observationes Medicae rank among the best practical works on physic, of the I7th 

 century. 



