248 - rHILOSOyHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO IOQS. 



method for understanding the oeconomia animalis, the nature of diseases, and 

 the materia medica, as it was by him demonstrated at Oxford, London, and 

 Cambridge; first of the elements, fabric, and system of the world; then of 

 the elements of terrestrial bodies, next the structure and parts of the human 

 body, in all its particulars ; and lastly, of the union of the soul and body. 

 Speaking of the materia medica, he affirms, all inward diseases have their first 

 seat in the mass of blood ; that there are no specific medicines for any particular 

 part of the body, and that outward applications cannot avail much for inward 

 distempers. He divides all the materia medica into 2 classes, evacuating and 

 altering medicines ; where he explains the chemistry and reason, the nature and 

 operations of medicines, &c. 



The last letter gives an account of a Latin Treatise lately published by the 

 author, called Evangelium Medici, sen Medicina Mystica de Suspensis Naturae 

 Legibus; in which he compares supernatural effects philosophically with natural 

 ones; and endeavours to explain them by the principles of physics. 



Carigiieya, seu Marsupiale Americaman ; or. The Anatomy of an Opossum, dis- 

 sected at Gresham-College. By Edw. Tyson, M.D.F.R.S. &c. at the 

 Surgeons' -hall, in London. N'^ 239, P- 'O^- 



This animal, which was brought alive from Virginia, has several names given 

 it by different authors. Georg. Margravius, (Nat. Hist. Brasii.) and Gul Piso, 

 (Hist. Nat.) tell us, that it is called in Brasii, and on the sea coasts, carigueya; 

 by some, and in the inland countries, impatiima ; in Paraguay, tai-ibi. Franc. 

 Hernandez, (Hisf. Mexican.) says it is called tlaquatzin by the Indians. 

 Antonius Herera calls it taquatzin ; and the modern Spaniards, by a corruption, 

 tlaquacum ; as Job. Euseb. Nierembergius, (Hist. Nat.) informs us. Joh, Pet. 

 Maffeius, (Hist. Ind.) and Caspar Barlseus, (Res Gest. in Brasilia,) call it 

 cerigo. Joh. Lerius, (Hist. Navig. in Brasiliam,) calls it sarigoy or carigoy. 

 Joh. Stadenius, (Hist. Brasii.) or Stadius, as he is printed in Theodore de Bry, 

 writes it, servoy or serwoy. By Cardan and Oviedo, (Summar. Ind. Occid.) 

 it is called chiurca et alibi chucia. In Virginia, and generally by the English, 

 it is called opossum, as by Ralph. Hamor, (Descript. Virginias) and others. 

 Joh. de Laet, (Descripl. India; Occidentalis) and Captain John Smith, {^oy. and 

 Disc, in Virginia) writes it, opossum. Mr. Ray, (Synops. Animal.) calls it, the 

 possum ; as do also our common seamen. 



But since it is an animal sui generis, and in several parts has a great re- 

 semblance to those of different species, I think a denomination might be best 

 given to it, from that particular in which it is most distinguished from all others; 

 which is that remarkable pouch or marsupium it has in the belly ; into which. 



