242 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I716. 



An Account of what appeared on opening the big-bellied JVoman, near Haman 

 in Shropshire, who was sjipposed to have continued many Years with Child. 

 Communicated by Dr. Hollings^ M. D. from Shrewsbury. N° 348, p. 452. 



A married woman near Haman, 3 miles from Shrewsbury, about 40 years of 

 age, supposed herself with child; she had the usual signs, and a good midwife 

 assured her it was so, but that the child was so large she could not be delivered 

 without bringing it away in pieces. But not submitting to that, her pains soon 

 went off, and she continued without any other disorders 9 months longer, 

 when she had again the signs of labour; and the same midwife assured her as 

 before, and she, persisting in her former resolution, her pains, after a day or 



2 went off again. Soon after her belly swelled to a surprising size, and she 

 was exhibited as a show. I saw her first above 20 years since, when her belly 

 was almost even with her chin, and the weight of it so great, that she was 

 obliged to support it with a stool. She could not stand without the help of a 

 rope from the ceiling, which assisted her in changing her posture of sitting. 

 She slept commonly with her arms folded on her belly, and her head rested 

 between them. She had no swelling in her legs : every other part emaciated 

 as usual in the like cases. Thus she lived without any other considerable 

 complaint above 30 years, the most remarkable circumstance, I think, in her 

 case. She died in May 1715, when this appeared to be an ascites. 



I need not mention the state the common teguments must necessarily be in 

 from so great a distention, which had distorted many of her ribs, and forced 

 the diaphragm so high, that it was surprising to find her breathing could be 

 continued so long. The water was all contained in the duplicature of the peri- 

 tonaeum, 13 gallons, besides a quart that was spilt: it was saltish, with some 

 little fat upon it, and towards the latter running tinged with blood as usual. 

 There was no water in the cavity of the abdomen, except what was contained 

 in a kind of bladder, which lay across the fundus uteri. This was divided by a 

 cartilaginous substance into two cavities; in one there was 1-l pint, in the other 



3 parts of a pint of water. I believe it was this that imposed on the midwife. 

 The uterus was of the natural size, without any alteration, except that the os 

 tincae and collum minus were filled with a gritty substance, hard as stone, 

 which I take to be the humour separated there, and coagulated by time. Mr. 

 Cooper, Tab. 15, fig. 4, says he found the same parts filled with a glutinous 

 matter, which he thinks is useful to prevent abortion ; which, if vitiated, im- 

 pregnation is hindered. 



The liver and other parts contained in the abdomen, were forced into an 



