06 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 757. 



effect of this concussion is related by several of our seafaring men, that almost 

 immediately after the earthquake, large numbers of fish of different sorts, both 

 great and small, came up to the surface of the water, some dead, and others 

 dying. 



11. The Strange Effects of some Effervescent Mixtures. By Dr. James Mourisey, 

 Physician of the Russian uirmy, and F. R. S. Dated Moscow, Sept. 10th, 

 1756. p. 19. 



Mr. Butler, a paper-stainer, trying to make some discoveries for the better 

 fixing of colours, was put in danger of his life by the following experiments : 

 having put into one gallipot 4- oz. of verdigris, and into another pot 2 leaves 

 of false gold leaf, to each he poured about a spoonful of aquafortis. They began 

 immediately to ferment, especially the gold-leaf. He was very assiduous in 

 stirring them, to make the solution perfect. Having nothing else at hand, he 

 did this with a pair of small scissars, at arm's length, carefully turning away his 

 face, to prevent the fumes from entering his lungs. He was called away, about 

 other business, before he had quite ended his process ; and soon after washed 

 and shifted himself: but had scarcely finished before he felt a burning pain in 

 the ring-finger of his right hand, which he imputed to his having inadvertently 

 touched the aquafortis. This increased every moment, and affected the whole 

 hand with burning pain and swelling, which very soon subsided : but then it flew 

 into the left hand, and a few minutes afterwards, into the insides of his legs, as 

 if scalding water had been thrown on them. His stockings being immediately 

 pulled off, there appeared a great many red spots, as large as sixpences, some- 

 thing raised above the skin, and all covered with very small blisters. 



In about 1 hours after the accident, Dr. M. first saw him : he was very 

 uneasy, complaining of pain, and great anxiety, at the pit of the stomach, as if a 

 burning hot iron was laid on it, as he expressed himself. His pulse was regular, 

 but slower and weaker than natural : he had a nausea, and complained of a very 

 • coppery smell and taste. Dr. M. ordered some alkaline volatile medicines, and 

 to drink small sack-whey. He vomited once, and had 4 or 5 stools, and then 

 his stomach became easy. But the scene soon began again with lancing pain in 

 the left eye. He continued the same medicines, drank plentifully of the whey, 

 and was kept in a breathing sweat, by which he found some ease at night : but 

 whenever the sweating lessened, the burning pains returned in broad flakes, 

 changing from one part of the body to the other ; sometimes with shootings in 

 his eye, and sometimes along the penis, but he had no heat of urine. His pulse 

 continued regular, but weak ; and in several places of his body such kind of spots 

 struck out as those on his legs. 



Monday, the 3d day, in the morning, after sleeping well, his pulse was some- 



