VOL. XLIll.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, i 113 



taken after it; and the next day he found her pains continued, which now ap- 

 peared like a tenesmus; though so violent, as to prevent her rest all that night. 

 He then ordered her a repetition of the clyster and paregoric; and the next day, 

 finding her in great pain, and still without any rest, and beginning to be a little 

 feverish, he ordered 8 oz. of blood to be taken away, and continued the pare- 

 goric, which he likewise ordered her to repeat as she found occasion; from the 

 use of which she sometimes rested tolerably well ; but as the power of the opiate 

 went off, her pains always returned. 



Several days having now passed without any alteration, he again examined her, 

 and found the os tincae still as close as ever; but, on a stricter inquiry, he felt 

 something, which seemed to be the head of a child fluctuating in its mem- 

 branes. 



He told her his thoughts of her case, and that it was not in his power to help 

 her; but that nature must take its course, or at least point out a method how to 

 act. She seemed very much surprised at his opinion, and asked, if ever he had 

 met with such a case before ? He told her, he had been engaged in the practice of 

 midwifery upwards of 20 years; in all which time he had never met with a case of 

 the like nature : being positive he felt the head of a child, but could not absolutely 

 determine whether it was in the uterus or extra uterum. 



He then told her, he would desire the favour of Dr. Bamber to give her a visit; 

 which he did; and the next day they went together; when, on examination, he 

 confirmed what he had before asserted ; but seemed more inclinable to believe the 

 child was extra uterum. Indeed he proceeded in his inquiry at that time further 

 than before, having passed his finger into the anus, where he could distinguish 

 the head more plainly. They then both left her, after having ordered her to re- 

 peat the paregoric, when in more pain than ordinary, and once in 2 or 3 days to 

 take a gentle lenitive purge, to keep her body soluble; because the continual use 

 of opiates would naturally tie her up. 



In this manner she went on for about 3 weeks longer; when he waited on Dr. 

 Nichols, and desired the same favour of him as he had before asked of Dr. Bamber, 

 that he might have his opinion also of a case which appeared so very singular. 

 The next day they went together; and when they came, he desiretl he would 

 examine her, which he did; and after having heard all her complaints, said, he 

 was of opinion, that there was some abscess forming in, or in contact with, the 

 uterus, which very likely in a little time would break and discharge itself; but as, 

 at that time, nothing of a child could be perceived by the touch, so he was 

 obliged to submit that to the credit of his opinion, who had before frequently 

 felt it. 



Thus she continued for about a fortnight after this visit; when, calling on her 

 one day, she told him, she was much easier than she had been ; and that some- 



VOL. IX. Q 



