132 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO \6g6-7 . 



racentesis in the like case, when the disease is certainly known, and without it, 

 death is most likely to ensue. 



Account of a Booh, viz, Musei Petiveriani * Centuria Prima, Rariora Natures 

 continens : viz. j^nimalia, Fussilia, Planlas, ex variis Mundi Flagis advecta, 

 Ordine digesta, Nominiims propriis signata, et Iconibus ceneis eleganter illus- 

 trata. Lond. l6g6. 8vo. N° 224, p, 393. 



The History of a Tumor in the lower Part of the Belly, related by Mr. Giles, 

 sworn Surgeon at St. Come ; from Brunei's Progrts de la Medicine. N° 225, 

 p. 402. . : , . 



A Lady about 64 years old, had a tumor in the lower region of the belly, 

 hard, round, and as large as a ball, such as the boys play with. This globe 

 could be moved in the same manner as the matrix, when with a child, of 6 or 7 

 months old; no accidents like a fever, pain, vomiting, loss of blood, fluor albus, 

 &c. accompanied this tumor, but a constant discharge of nrine; many physi- 

 cians were consulted at different times ; they searched the patient, and agreed 

 at length that it was a scirrhus, some placed it in the epiploon, others in the 

 mesentery, and others in the matrix. All possible means were employed to 

 soften and discuss it ; as emetics, strong purgatives, diuretics, emollients and 

 resolvents ; but all to no purpose. Being wearied with so many remedies, she 

 went in her coach to take the air at Vincennes ; after her return she had an in- 

 clination to go to stool, and filled a basin with gross excrements, a little black, 

 and not very stinking ; this she did a second time, and the lady found herself 



* James Petiver, a zealous cultivator of the science of natural history, was an eminent London 

 apothecary. He collected specimens from all countries, and his Museum became so considerable, 

 that Sir Hans Sloane offered to purchase it for the sum of four thousand pounds. Mr. Petiver was 

 a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was the correspondent of Ray, Sloiiie, and most other eminent 

 naturalists. His first publication was "Musei I'etiveiiani Centuri.-e decern:" containing the names 

 and synonyms of various rare animals, fossils, and plants, among which latter are some of the rarer 

 cryptogamic plants of England. He next published " Gazoplii/lncii Natiira et Artis Decades 

 Decem." A work of great importance at the period of its publication, consisting of engravings, 

 with short descriptions, of all the orders of animals, vegetables, and fossils. He was also the 

 author of many other publications relative to Natural History ; and after having arrived at a very 

 considerable age, died at his house in Aldersgate-street, on the 20th of April 17 IS. His funeral 

 was splendid, and the pall was supported by Sir Hans Sloane, J)r Levit, physician to the Charter- 

 house, and four other physicians. Many of Petiver's works having become scarce, the whole, 

 exclusive of his papers in the Philosophical Transactions, were collected and published in 2 vols, 

 folio, in the year 1704, with the addition of some plates which had not appeared in the formei 

 edition. i 



