338 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, [aNNO I ZSQ. 



The Case of Mr Cox, Surgeon at Peterborough, who fell into a Pesti- 

 lential Fever on tapping a Corpse lately dead of a Dropsy, drawn up by hivi - 

 self, and read before the Peterborough Society, Sept. 1, I736. N° 454, p. 168. 



An elderly gentlewoman, labouring under a dropsy about 12 months, under- 

 went the operation of tapping 4 several times, by which 35 quarts of liquor 

 were discharged; and dying at last of the distemper, Mr. C. was desired by her 

 friends to let out the water that was then contained in the abdomen, as well to 

 preserve the corpse the longer from putrefaction, as to prevent an annoyance 

 to the company at the time of her funeral. — Yet notwithstanding this was done 

 within a few hours after death, the included humours were become so putrefied 

 as to discolour the external parts with a green and livid hue. The liquor itself 

 was green, and somewhat thicker than new milk; in smell more fetid and of- 

 fensive than what he ever met with, and so sharp and acrimonious in its nature, 

 as deeply to corrode a silver canula, through which it passed. And what showed 

 it to be highly malignant, may be judged of from the following circumstances. 



The night after the operation, he was somewhat restless and uneasy, and 

 the next day afflicted with small tremors, and an unusual lassitude; in about 3 

 days after, several angry pustules arose on his hands and fingers, and on every 

 place where the least drop of water fell ; some of which coming to matter, 

 went off" soon; those which did not, continued painful, and remained much 

 longer. The thumb of his right hand, and middle finger of his other, were 

 affected more severely than any other part, the pain more exquisite, the swell- 

 ing more hard and large, and of a red dusky complexion. This was about the 

 6th day of his illness, and though the strongest suppuratives were made use of, 

 yet they failed of the desired success, the pains being continual. Being per- 

 suaded from the great pulsation and heavy pains, that matter must lodge either 

 under or on the periosteum, an incision was made to the bone, by which only 

 two or three drops of matter were discharged. It was expected this small dis- 

 charge might in some measure mitigate his pain, but it did not; the same 

 evening, that pain he at first complained of was changed into universal convul- 

 sions, and the oppression on the vitals so great, as to threaten immediate 

 death. 



The intentions of cure were to fortify the heart with cordials, to enable it 

 to resist and throw out the malignity, and to bring the sores to a plentiful 

 digestion . 



The first was treated with the highest alexipharmics; the latter, as at first, 

 with strong suppuratives; this being about the 8th day of his illness, and the 



