VOL. XUV.3 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 349 



diverted from its natural channel, to the vein of the ureter (ureteris venae) which 

 in the sound state is a small vein, and arises from the right iliac. A similar in- 

 stance of a constriction or obliteration of the cavity of the vena cava is recorded 

 in Johan. Rhodii Mantiss. Anat. Obs. xxi. From both cases it is evident, that an 

 obstruction may occur in the larger blood-vessels; and that when, by reason of 

 such obstruction, the blood is diverted from its natural channel, it rushes with 

 impetus into the smaller canals, which consequently become dilated. 



The second observation relates to the appearances noticed in the dissection of 

 a woman, who was reputed to be 100 years old. The muscles, glands, nerves, 

 and cellular membrane, were found to be very compact and hard. There was a 

 >very gi'eat enlargement of the aorta at its origin from the heart. 



1. The arterious valves of the heart were partly indurated, partly interspersed 

 with stony concretions (petrosis tumoribus) much the same as in one of Cowper's 

 figures (Myolog. Reform, tab. xi). The other valves were nearly in a sound 

 state. 



2. The inner coat of the aorta, not only at its origin from the heart and in 

 the thorax, but in the abdomen also, had the appearance of being ulcerated, 

 and was beset with a number of loose squamae, which were either of an osseous 

 or of a stony compactness; and heaps of small tophaceous concretions blocked 

 up the mouths of most of the vessels which branched off from the aorta. 



3. In like manner a number of osseous crustse were found on the internal coat 

 of the hypogastric and iliac arteries, and of the arteries which go to the pelvis, 

 &c. And in all the arteries of the body were found hard coagulated portions of 

 blood of a round figure, but of a smaller diameter than their containing canals. 



4. The gall-bladder was full of bile, scarcely bitter, and moreover contamed 

 20 small angular calculi, by one of which the mouth of the ductus cysticus was 

 completely obstructed. Professor H. remarks that he had generally found the 

 bile to have a sweet taste, when concretions were formed in it. . '^ 



Concerning the Properly of ffaler Efts* in slipping off their Shins as Serpents 

 do. By Mr. David Erskine Baher.f N° 483, p. 529. 



This animal is to be found in the spring, and during the whole summer season, 

 in most ditches and shallow standing waters throughout England, being unknown 

 to very few. 



It has long been known, that most of the serpent kind put ofl^, or, as we 

 commonly tenn it, cast their skins, at certain periodical times; though we are 

 very little acquainted with the manner of their performing this work, since it is 



• The species of newt here intended is the lacerta aquatica of Linnaeus, or common water-newt, 

 f Son of Mr. Henry Baker before noticed. Vol. 8, p. 426. 



