42 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1703. 



to suppress the stench. So putrid was the pus, that it tarnished that end of the 

 silver probe I passed into the cavity of the abscess, as it did the top of a silver 

 syringe in making injections. There seems no room to doubt that the pus, 

 which then flowed from her side, came from the same cavity as the pus which 

 she before coughed up, when the liquor that was injected at her side came into 

 her mouth ; which she frequently complained of, and particularly of the bitterish 

 taste of the tincture of myrrh which I sometimes used in the injections. 



Among the many disorders that affect the parts of human bodies, thos-? of 

 ihe lungs have been considered as none of the least dangerous; and indeed, if 

 observations did not assure us of the possibility of success, the commonly known 

 structure of the lungs would afford us but mean arguments for the shift nature 

 makes, in the instance you have given so exact a description of, as well as some 

 other instances of the like nature I have met with. 



About two or three years since, I saw a boy in the Qth or 10th year of his age, 

 who, for some time after a continued fever, was attacked by an intermitting 

 one ; a cough ensued, in which he brought up at short intervals, no small 

 quantity of thick purulent stinking pus, which discharge continued on him 

 no less than 14 or 15 months before 1 saw him; his physicians ordering him 

 issues in his back, 1 made them as usual; he had then a healthy aspect, his 

 cheeks florid, and was very brisk and active; when he just came from play, he 

 was bid to take a basin in his hand and cough as he was wont, which he did, 

 wherein I saw him discharge at his mouth not less than 4 or 5 oz. of the sort 

 of pus above mentioned; this his mother told me he had been wont to do twice 

 every day; nor did he appear anywise disordered after, but returned to play im- 

 mediately. Plis physicians sent him into the country, whence he came, where 

 in about a twelvemonth I heard he died, but was not acquainted with his circum- 

 stances after; what success the operation we practised on Mrs. Terry would 

 have had on this boy, I dare not determine; though I cannot but think it might 

 have been safely performed on him, and on another patient I was since called to; 

 but I could not obtain the consent of the physician that was consulted. 



Another instance, in which a considerable part of the lungs was obstructed, 

 and consequently became useless some time before the patient's death, was in a 

 girl of l6, who had been scrophulous for Q years; the glands about her neck 

 and throat being very much indurated, as well as distended, her lips and nose 

 were also swollen; about a year and a half before her death she coughed up 7 or 

 8 oz. of fetid pus, in less than 24 hours. On changing the air of this town 

 for that of the country, together with the use of balsamic pectorals, she reco- 

 vered, a healthful look in her face, but continued somewhat asthmatic. On 

 taking cold, her appetite as well as digestion failed her, she became feverish. 



