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TOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 675 



ceding case, from imagining that the degree of heat in melted lead was too 

 great to be borne in the stomach, without immediate death, or at least much 

 more sudden than happened in this case; Mr. S. asserts the fact, not onlv by 

 his own, and, if requisite, the oaths of others, but also by the following experi- 

 ments, which from similarity of circumstances must not only render that pro- 

 bable, but in the most convincing manner the absolute possibility of his as- 

 sertion. 



He extracted in 3 pieces, from the stomach of a small dog, 6 drs. 1 scr. of 

 lead, which he had poured down his throat the day before. The mucous lining 

 of the cesophagus seemed very viscid, and the stomach much corrugated, though 

 its internal coat was no-ways excoriated. The dog had nothing to eat or drink 

 after; nor for 24 hours before the experiment, when, being very brisk, he 

 killed him. 



He also took from the stomach of a large dog, in several pieces, 6 oz. 2 drs. 

 of lead, 3 days after thrown in. The pharynx and cardia of the stomach were 

 a little inflamed and excoriated ; but the cesophagus and stomach seemed in no 

 manner affected. He gave this dog half a pint of milk just before he poured 

 down the lead ; very soon after which also he eat of it freely, as if nothing 

 ailed him ; which he daily continued to do, being very lively at the time he 

 killed him. / 



From the crop of a full grown fowl, he in company with Dr. Huxham, f. k. s. 

 extracted of lead one solid piece, weighing 2-^ oz. with Q other small portions, 

 weighing 4^ oz. which lead was thrown down the fowl's throat 25 hours before. 

 The fowl was kept without meat for 24 hours, before and after the experiment, 

 eating (being very lively just before they killed him) dry barley, as fast, and 

 with the same ease as before. The mucus on the larynx and oesophagus was 

 somewhat hardened. The external coat of the crop appeared in a very small 

 degree livid ; and the internal somewhat corrugated. The barley was partly in 

 the oesophagus, though mostly in the craw, which was almost full with the lead. 

 He took 2 oz. 1 scr. from the crop of another fowl, 3 days after the experi- 

 ment, which fowl was very brisk to the last. 



Allowing, for a further satisfaction, that the experiment be tried, it is re- 

 quisite in making it, that the melted lead be poured into a funnel, whose spout 

 being as large as the throat of the animal (whose neck must be kept firmly 

 erect) will conveniently admit of, must be forced down the oesophagus, some- 

 what below the larynx, lest any of the lead might fall in it; and according to the 

 quantity, either by totally, or partly obstructing the aspera arteria, cause imme- 

 diate, or a lingering death ; which accidents happening in his first experiments 

 on 2 dogs, directed him to proceed in the above manner. 



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