VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 563 



skin appeared white and smooth, like that of other people ; but on his recovery, 

 it soon became as it was before. His health at other times had been very good 

 during his whole life. 



But the most extraordinary circumstance of this man's story was, that he had 

 had 6 children, all with the same rugged covering as himself: the first appearance 

 in them, as well as in him, came on in about g weeks after the birth. Only one 

 of them was then living, a very pretty boy, 8 years of age, whom Mr. B. saw, 

 and examined, with his father, and who was exactly in the same condition, 

 which he thought needless to repeat. He also had had the small-pox, and during 

 that time was free from this disorder. 



f^I. Chi the lale Eruption of Mount Fesnvius. By Isaac Jamineau, Esq. his 



Majesty's Consul at Naples, p. 24. 



In April 1754, the fire issued from one end of a hillock, in the shape of a 

 crescent, within the crater. On his 2d visit, in September, the crescent was 

 turned to a cone, but much higher than before, being increased in proportion to 

 the fire, that now discharged, by frequent explosions, thousands of stones on 

 fire. On a 3d visit, in the middle of October, the cone seemed lower, which 

 was owing to the rising of the bottom of the cup, whose depth from 80 feet was 

 decreased to 50. The lava was actually running in many places ; and where it 

 was not, the fire was universally visible within a foot or two of the surface. 



The running of the lava within the crater increased daily, so that in a month's 

 time the cup was filled within 25 feet. On Tuesday, December 3, at night, 

 after a little shaking, which was not felt above 2 or 3 miles ofl^", an opening burst 

 on the eastern side of the mountain. 



Notwithstanding its slowness, it drives the strongest stone fences before it, 

 and from lighting the trees, like torches, affords a most extraordinary, though 

 dismal and pitiful spectacle. 



But the lesser stream which I saw before, is a small trout-stream compared to 

 this, which sets off in a cascade of a mile's length, and, though rather with a 

 less declivity, is equally rapid, from the greater quantity of matter rushing down 

 it. The breadth about 60 feet at the top ; but by having melted down an 

 island, that divided its stream about 200 yards in the fall, the breadth in that 

 place must be above 1 00 yards. 



FII. An Account of the Species of Plant, from ivhich the Agaric, used as a 

 Styptic, is prepared. Bij Mr. JVm. JVatson, F. R. S. p. 28. 

 Mr. W. having written to M. Clairaut of Paris, requesting him to put some 

 questions to Messrs. de Jussieu and Morand, concerning the species of agaric 

 used as a styptic, he received for answer that it is the 



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