TOL. XLIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTION'S. ©7 



Abessines, who came from Arabia originally, are no longer of their swarthy com- 

 plexion, but have got the black complexion of the Ethiopians, whose country 

 they possess. The Mosemleeks of Canada, who wear clothes, and are more 

 civilized than the other savages their neighbours, who go quite naked, are so 

 much more refined in their complexions by this usage, as to be taken for Spa- 

 niards, and not Indians. Nay the Spaniards themselves, who have inhabited 

 America under the torrid zone for any time, are become as dark coloured as our 

 native Indians of Virginia: and were they not to intermarry with the Europeans, 

 but lead the same rude and barbarous lives with the Indians, it is very probable, 

 that, in a succession of many generations, they would become as dark in com- 

 plexion. 



The Case of a Lad who was shot through the Lungs. By Mr. Nic. Peters, jun. 



Surgeon. N° 474, p. 151, 



Dec. 28, 1737, James Channon, about 14 years of age, was accidentally shot 

 in his back by another lad, at the distance of 1 yards from him ; so that the 

 whole load of shot, not having space to scatter, entered like a ball, by the edge 

 of the left scapula, which it splintered; and, slanting upward, passed between 

 the two superior ribs, and fractured the clavicle ; the resistance of which bone 

 hindered their passage through the skin ; for some of them lay immediately on 

 the fractured part, covered only by the cutis; which, with a touch of the in- 

 cision-knife, Mr. P. took out, to the number of a dozen : they were the small 

 mustard-seed shot. 



After reducing the fracture, he drew off 10 oz. of blood, he having lost but 

 very little by the wound ; and treated the wound in his back as usual in gun- 

 shot wounds; and the fever which attended it, as a common symptomatic 

 fever. In 8 or 9 days time a plentiful suppuration came on, and his fever 

 abated. 



Towards the middle of January, the discharge of fetid pus was so great, not 

 only through the wound, but also by expectoration, that he thought he could 

 not long survive it : at each time of dressing, which was morning and evening, 

 till the quantity lessened, full 6 oz. of pus were discharged : the like quantity 

 he would generally cough up between the dressings. When the dressings were 

 removed, he frequently made him force a cough, and try if he could not throw 

 out any pus by his mouth ; but, instead of passing that way, it flew out through 

 the wound, like water from a pump : if he blocked up the wound with tow, he 

 could then freely discharge it by the mouth. When the matter had done flow- 

 ing, the air which was forced through the wound by coughing, would blow out 

 a candle, as was often experienced. The matter was so very fetid, that, for 

 some time after he was dressed, the stench in the chamber was scarcely tolerable; 



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