448 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I678. 



Anatomical Observations on an Abscess in the Liver \ also a great Number of 

 Stones in the Gall-Bag and Bilious Vessels ; an unusual Conformation of the 

 Emulgents and Pelvis ; a strange Conjunction of both Kidnies ; and great 

 Dilatation of the Vena Cava. By Edw. Tyson* A. M. and M, S. Oxon. 

 N° 142, p. 1035. 



The anatomy of morbid bodies, as Dr. Harvey has observed, is most instruc- 

 tive ; thereby we become acquainted not only Wi\h the many causes that oppress 

 nature, but with the liberty she often takes in forming the parts different from 

 her usual rule ; our present subject affords both. For on lately opening the 

 body of a clergyman of this city, we observed the liver to be very large and 

 fastened to the diaphragm more than usually ; the colon so firmly joined to the 

 liver near the gall-bladder, that I could not separate it without incision. The 

 gibbous part of the liver towards the right side, appeared discoloured, where 

 making an incision there plentifully issued out a perfect pus, very foetid ; and 

 the same from a wound I made in its cavous part near the fissure. This puru- 

 lent matter I found not contained in any particular cystis or bag, but in several 

 sinuses in that part of the liver ; whereas the other parts seemed sound and 

 well coloured. Nor did I any where meet with any tubercules, glandules, or 

 scirrhus. 



This abscess may well be presumed the cause of that lurking fever that ended 

 in death. The patient laboured under it about six weeks, but without much 

 sickness, though troubled with irregular heats, yet sometimes such as were 

 imperceptible to himself: twice or thrice, but at great distances, he had pa- 

 roxysms of chill fits like an intermittent fever, but such a fcetor and dryness in 

 his throat as proved obstinate to all medicines. His approaching death was 

 attended with other symptoms that usually follow the affection of the brain 

 and genus nervosum. Formerly he had been often subject to the yellow jaun- 

 dice ; and it is well worth the enquiry, why at present nothing thereof appeared } 

 since the gall bladder was not only filled with stones, but likewise the meatus 

 cysticus and ductus communis even to the duodenum were very much distended 

 with them ; in the porus bilarius also I met with several small ones. No fluid 



* Edward Tyson was a celebrated Physician and Anatomist of the 17th century, and a great con- 

 tributor to the Philosophical Transactions, especially on subjects relative to natural history and com- 

 parative anatomy. He read lectures at Gresham College. Besides his numerous communications 

 to the Royal Society, he published the following works : Phocoena, or an Anatomy of a Porpus, 

 I68O. Carigueya -seu Marsupiale Americanum, or the Anatomy of an Opossum dissected at 

 Gresham College, 1698, (of which an account is also inserted in tlie Philosophical Transactions.) 

 The Anatomy of a Pigmy, compared with a monkey, an ape, and man, &c. 1699. 



