VOL. L.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ] 65 



experiment was repeated on the 3d day; by which time she had received in all 

 upwards of 6oo severe shocks. She then telling them that she had as much 

 power in the side that had been affected as in the other, they thought it unne- 

 cessary to proceed further, as the electricity had already, to all appearance, pro- 

 duced a complete cure. And indeed the patient continued to be well till the 

 Sunday following, viz. about 3 days after the last operation; but on going that 

 day to church, she probably took cold; for on Monday she complained of a 

 numbness in her left hand and foot ; but on being again electrified every symptom 

 vanished, and she was perfectly well ever afterwards.* 



LI. Of some Fossil Fruits, and other Bodies^ found in the Island of Shepey. 

 By James Parsons, M. Z)., F. R. S. p. 396. 



It will not be amiss to give a short detail of such bodies as are capable of 

 either being petrified themselves, or of leaving their impressions in stony matter. 

 By being petrified, is meant being impregnated with stony, pyritical, or any 

 other metalline or sparry matter; for there are innumerable specimens, where all 

 these are apparent. 



Testaceous and Cruslaceous Animals. — ^The shelly matter of these is of so 

 compact and dry a nature, that they will endure for ages : and if in a soil or bed 

 where moisture has access, they will receive stony matter into their pores, and 

 become ponderous in proportion to the quantity imbibed. If in a dry place, 

 they will remain fair and sharp, suffering very little change by any length of 

 time; while the flesh of these, being subject to putrefaction, is soon destroyed; 

 and yet some of these may be replaced in due form by stony particles. 



Wood. — The kinds of wood found fossil are of very different texture; and 

 this too is according to' the places where they are deposited. Some are seen so 

 highly impregnated with a fine stony and pyritical matter, as to bear a polish like 

 a pebble; some, though quite reduced to stone, yet preserving the fibrous ap- 

 pearance of the original state ; and some which is found in boggy bottoms, being 

 not at all changed, except in colour : this is called bog oak, or bog deal, well 

 known to country people in many places of these three kingdoms, who light 

 themselves about their business with slips of this wood, cut on purpose instead 

 of candles, as it burns with a clear and durable flame. It is remarkable, that 

 though oak or fir shall lie ages immersed in water under-ground, it shall not 

 putrefy, but acquire such sulphureous particles by lying in steep in the bog- 

 water, as to qu-^lify it for this use. Other wood, deposited in marly ground, is 

 found incrusted over, trunk and branches, with a white crust, the wood remain- 



* This account was attested by the patient herself, and by the minister of Coldingham, in Ber- 

 wickshire, where she lived. I'he truth of the above statement was also further corroborated by a 

 letter from Dr. Whytt to Dr. Pringle. 



