VOL. XLIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. Gg 



just above the diaphragm, on the left side: Mr. P. applied a warm plaster, and drew 

 off 10 ounces of blood, which was pretty much inflamed. A few days afterwards 

 an abscess formed between the ribs, where he had before complained of the pain ; 

 which was opened, and discharged about 4 oz. of the same fetid matter, and 18 

 shot. Here was a true empyema, and there were now great hopes of a cure ; 

 nature having pointed out such a depending part, for a discharge of what matter 

 might be lodged in the thorax. He then healed up the issue in his back, and 

 kept this new wound open with a cannula; but within 10 days, the matter had 

 ceased flowing, his feverish symptoms again increased, and his cough returned 

 with a discharge of the, same putrid matter. He threw aside the cannula, and 

 healed the wound between the ribs, it answering no end to keep it longer open. 

 The remaining part of the year 1739, he had several returns of his cough, with 

 pretty large expectorations, but they were not of long continuance ; frequent 

 bleedings, a milk diet, and vulnerary medicines, were made use of. 



In the years 1740, 41, 42, towards spring and autumn, he generally was 

 seized with a difficulty of breathing, and pain of the side : bleeding would relieve 

 him for the present, but it seldom ended without a discharge of the same sort of 

 pus by coughing, and with it sometimes one or two shot. At the latter end 

 of the summer 1741, he had an abscess formed in the left side, between the 

 true and sjiurious ribs. Mr. P. opened it, and with the matter discharged 

 nine shot. 



Between these grand fits of coughing, which happened 3 or 4 times in the 

 year, he would gain strength, grow fat, and work at his trade of glove-making. 



Towards the latter end of March 1743, his cough returned again with the , 

 same usual violence, and the discharge in one night was a full pint of fetid bloody 

 pus; half that quantity was expectorated next day. He had the same feverish 

 symptoms a few days before this cough, as usual, but rather more severe. It^ 

 continued on him 8 days before it began to abate. No shot were discharged at 

 this time, as was expected; but he coughed up a broad scale of a bone, ragged 

 at the edges, and of an irregular shape, which Mr. P. imagined was a part of the 

 scapula. A few weeks after this he was taken into the hospital. 



Thus far Mr. Peters. He had the benefit of the Devon and Exeter hospital, 

 under Dr. Hallett's care for 1 5 months ; during which time he was hectical, 

 had sometimes pleuritic pains, for which he was often bled, and took soft pectorals. 

 He frequently spat pus in great quantities. He was confined to a milk diet; 

 ordered balsamics, particularly bals. locatelli in an electuary. He was afterwards 

 healthy, strong, and fat; and could walk fromTopsham to Exeter, which is near 

 4 miles, returning the same day. 



