VOL. XLI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 4g7 



When an hydatid swells to a considerable size, the volume of the fluid will 

 become disproportioned to the force of the teguments ; these will be burst by 

 the shaking of the contained fluid, on the least motion of the body. This fluid 

 will extravasate into the common bag, on opening which, the waters and mem- 

 branes, which result from that rupture, will be found. 



Most part of the glandulous grains are distributed into clusters, as is well 

 known to anatomists ; therefore hydatids are also found disposed in clusters, 

 like ovaries. 



Yet the greatest number of this heap will be composed of separate hydatids; 

 because, when one of these globules has acquired a certain bulk, it will gene- 

 rally break the too feeble pedicle, which held it attached to the cluster ; and 

 thus it will fall into the common cavity. 



This kind of eruption, or general disengagement from the surface of the 

 bowel, must destroy its natural texture, and reduce it exactly to the state in 

 which we found the bottom of the bag of hydatids. 



2. ^n Observation on the singular Consequences of an incomplete Hernia, and 

 on the Functions of the Intestines exposed to sight. 



Catharine Guilmatre, of St. Adrian, near Rouen, aged 50, had a rupture in 

 the right groin, for 7 years before. At Easter 1739, there happened a stran- 

 gulation in her rupture ; and, having no assistance, the tumour suppurated, 

 and opened of itself. The excrements followed the pus, and the patient es- 

 caped at the expence of vomitings, and a little fever. 



The intestine cicatrized with the integuments, but there remained externally 

 an opening, through which the excrements passed. The anus ceased to per- 

 form its usual functions ; and, that excepted, the patient was cured. 



Towards Witsuntide, there issued out at the wound, besides the excrements, 

 a gut 3 or 4 inches in length ; but this gut was turned inside out, that is, the 

 villous coat was outward, and it conveyed no excrements ; these were always 

 discharged through the wound, on one side, and below the gut that was come 

 out. 



In the month of August of the same year, 173g, there came forth at the 

 wound another gut, turned as the first, n)aking with it a continuous canal, but 

 at its end supplying faeces, which had before been discharged through the 

 fistula ; so that, instead of the fistula, there was found, as it were, the trunk 

 of 1 intestines, which made a kind of fork. 



The woman, tired of this inconveniency, resolved at length to seek relief. 

 Fortune presented her with no other than the H6tel-Dieu of Rouen. She was 



VOL. VIII. 3S 



