116 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO \6q6. 



from hence is the source of those waters. It liappens also sometimes, that the 

 pores of the said vesiculae are so widened, that the lymph runs into the cavity 

 of the belly, or the interstices of the muscles: And from the disposition of the 

 blood, either being too thin or too viscid ; too thin whereby it easily passes 

 through the pores of the vesicles ; too viscid, so as not to be able to pass 

 through the capillary vessels, and by consequence compressing the adjacent 

 parts, so as to cause obstructions. 



Account of a Getitlemans being cut for the Stone in the Kidney, with a brief 

 Inquiry into the Antiquity mid Practice of Nephrotomy. N*^ 223, p. 333. 



After stating the opinions of various medical and chirurgical writers, ancient 

 as well as modern, respecting the operation of nephrotomy ; the author of this 

 communication proceeds to give the history of a case, wherein it was success- 

 fully performed ; as certified to him by the person himself, Mr. Hobson, upon 

 whom the experiment was made. 



This gentleman, who was consul for the English at Venice, having been 

 long afflicted with the stone in the kidney, was at length attacked with a fit of 

 such duration and violence, that it reduced him almost to desperation ; and 

 finding no relief from any means that had been used, he determined to apply 

 himself to Dominic de Marchetti, a famed and experienced practitioner at 

 Padua, intreating him to cut the stone out of his kidney, being fully persuaded 

 that no other method remained capable of relieving him. Marchetti repre- 

 sented not only the extreme hazard, but as he feared the impracticability of the 

 operation ; that it was what he had never attempted, and it was in effect to 

 destroy him. But Mr. Hobson persisting, Marchetti was at length prevailed 

 on to undertake it. He began with his knife, cutting gradually upon the 

 region of the kidney affected, till the blood disturbed the operation, so that 

 he could not finish it at that attempt : wherefore dressing the wound till the 

 next day, he then repeated and accomijlished it, by cutting into the body of 

 the kidney, and taking thence two or three small stones, he dressed it up 

 again. From this instant he was freed from the severity of the pain, and 

 in a reasonable time was able to walk about his chamber, having been in no 

 danger, either from flux of blood or fever. Marchetti continued to dress the 

 wound for a considerable time, but was not able to close it up, it soon be- 

 coming fistulous from the continual flowing of the urine through the sinus ; 

 but being in all other respects restored to his former health and vigour, and 

 the matter discharged being little in quantity, he took leave of the professor, 

 and returned to Venice, under the care and management of his wife ; who, one 



