5]2 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1748. 



This fish lived with him till the latter end of March, and then died ; having for 

 many days before its death lain at the bottom of the jar, without being able to 

 rise. As the mortification advanced, and came nearer its intestines, the quick- 

 ness of its taking water in at the mouth increased, till at last it took it in 3 times 

 faster than a lively strong fish did. On cutting oft' part of the fish's tail, in 

 hopes of stopping the mortification, the equilibrium of the body was so far lost, 

 that it hung in the water most commonly with the head downwards, and could 

 never afterwards continue in any other posture, without great strugglings, or 

 sinking down to the bottom of the vessel. Which may serve to show how nicely 

 and wonderfully the bodies of fishes are balanced, for keeping them in a horizon- 

 tal position ; since in this case the losing a few grains of the tail could so sensibly 

 destroy the equilibrium, as to render the rest of its fins almost useless. 



Of a Fustian Frock being set on Fire by Electricity. By Mr. Robert Roche. 



N" 487, p. 323. 



Mr. R. has a son about l6 years old, who had been for 6 or 7 years troubled 

 with sudden fits that entirely took away his senses. He got him all the helps 

 he could, but to no purpose ; at last he sent him to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, 

 as an out-patient ; whence he was turned out as incurable. Finding his case 

 desperate, he considered the power of electricity, and made a large machine for 

 electrifying ; and afterwards shocking him commonly twice a day, he received 

 some benefit. One day being on the pedestal, and very highly electrified, and 

 having on a coarse fustian working frock, the condensing phial being on the 

 conductor, and touching him to procure snaps as usual, he touched his right 

 shoulder blade ; when, to his great surprise, the furzy flax of the frock caught 

 fire, with a great blaze, and burnt the whole breadth and length of the shoulder, 

 the flame rising 6 inches above the collar, and would probably have set the frock 

 on fire, had he not put it out with his hands. There was no fire in the room 

 that day: this was about noon; neither was there any thing that could have any 

 inflammable vapour there. 



At 9 the same evening he made him put on the same frock, and touched the 

 left arm, where the flax had not been burnt before ; and it had the same effect 

 as above. 



Of a Child born with an Extraordinary Tumour near the Anus, containing some 

 Rudiments of an Embryo in it. By John Huxham, M. D., F. R. S. 

 N" 487, P- 325. 



John Perrine's wife, of Charleton parish, in Devonshire, a brisk active young 

 woman, he very infirm and consumptive, was delivered of a daughter at full 

 time, July 11, 1746. The child was perfect as to all its limbs, head, body, &c. 



