434 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1708. 



opening the body, a large abscess or imposthume was found in each lobe of the 

 liver ; the stomach was extremely contracted and ponderous, containing g cart- 

 wheel nails, and 6 others of a less size ; also a large and long iron screw ; two 

 pair of compasses, the one having a circle 2 inches in diameter ; a middle size 

 key ; a large iron pin, as thick as my thumb, and 4 inches long, with a ring at 

 the end of it ; another of brass, but much less ; the handle of an iron 

 spring-knife, swallowed as it is believed entire, but the sides and two pieces 

 forming its spring, found asunder; though the pegs of the knife, tying those 

 several pieces together, were not found; the upper and lower ends of a brass 

 pommel of afire grate, weighing g ounces; a broad piece of lead weighing three 

 ounces and a half: the whole consisting of 28 pieces, weighing between 

 2 and 3 pounds. These had been missed, and much sought for by his brother, 

 at different times. They were found all in a bundle, with the larger ends one 

 way, and the smaller the other; the small end of one of the large nails was so 

 bent, that it would have made a perfect circle, had not the very tip of that 

 same nail been bent back again ; this end was forked and very sharp, as were 

 likewise the points of the compasses. None of the pieces were found polished, 

 nor was the brass nor the lead anywise impaired or damaged; but the iron pieces 

 were exceedingly corroded, especially one side of the knife, which had lain in 

 the stomach about 8 months, was eaten quite through in two or three places, 

 towards the end of the blade; and three or four nails greatly corroded, as if 

 some particular menstruum or dissolvent had been poured upon them, but all 

 the other metals untouched : the lead had lain in the stomach about 8 months, 

 and the brass pin above J 2. It was very easy to guess at the time those dif- 

 ferent pieces of iron had been in the stomach, by considering how much one 

 piece had suffered more than the other. This observation seems to be in- 

 consistent with the notion of those who believed that ostriches dissolve brass 

 and iron by friction only ; for if so, I see little reason why the iron legs of the 

 compasses should have been found so very much worn out, and the brass parts 

 not in the least impaired. I was told by the surgeon who opened him, that the 

 stomach had been no ways wounded or damaged ; which does not appear to me 

 probable, as the patient was known to have vomited and evacuated blood by 

 stool for 6 weeks before he died. — It is to be wished the gullet and guts had 

 likewise been opened ; for it is plain, that some of the pieces had passed the 

 pylorus, as the pegs of the knife ; and perhaps some smaller pieces than those 

 that were found in the stomach. This ideot from his youth had accustomed 

 himself to swallow large morsels, without chewing ; which, doubtless, made 

 the passage of the oesophagus wider, and disposed it to give entrance to all 

 those extraneous bodies. It may be also remarked, that this ideot, (and some- 



