628 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 17 61. 



one limb to be lost by a sphacelus, attended with the same symptoms as in these 

 cases; but it is very extraordinary that a disorder of this kind should run through 

 a whole family with such amazing violence and rapidity. A nurse, who had 

 lived with them from the beginning of their illness, had not been affected. She 

 did not live in the house with them before; but used to be with them frequently. 



LXXXIF. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James Bones, M.A.^ Minister of 

 ff'attis/iam, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, relating to the Case of Mortification 

 of Limbs in a Family there, p. 526. 

 This is no more than a repetition of the case in the last article. 



LXXXV. Extract of a Second Letter from the Rev. Mr. Bones to Dr. Baker, 



p. 529. 



I have taken all the pains I can to inform myself of every circumstance which 

 may be deemed a probable cause of the disease by which the poor family in my 

 parish has been afflicted. But I fear I have discovered nothing that will be satis- 

 factory to you. The following is an answer to your queries. 



Water. — This they have taken out of a ditch, or pool of standing water, at 

 their own door, as is common in this clay country. We have no spring or well 

 in the parish. 



Beer. — ^They have generally bought their beer at a public house. But in 

 August last the poor man brewed 2 bushels of malt, in a large brass kettle, 

 which is very commonly let out to the poor. It is an old one, but belongs to a 

 cleanly housewife. 



Bread. — We have no rye. This family have been used to buy two bushels of 

 clog-wheat, or rivets, or bearded wheat (as it is variously called in this country), 

 every fortnight. Of this they have made their household bread. This wheat 

 they have bought of the farmer, whom I lodge with, who tells me that last year 

 he had some wheat laid, which he gathered, and threshed separately, lest it should 

 spoil his samples. Not that it was mildewed, or grown, but only discoloured, 

 and smaller than the other. This damaged wheat he threshed last Christmas; 

 and then this poor family used no bread but what was made of it, as likewise did 

 the farmer s own family, and some others in the neighbourhood. We observed 

 Uiat it made bad bread, and worse puddings ; but I do not find that it disagreed 

 with any body. A labouring man of the parish, who had used this bread, was 

 affected with a numbness in both his hands, for about 4 weeks from the Qth of 

 January. His hands were continually cold, and his fingers ends peeled. One 

 thumb he says still remains without any sensation, 



Kitchen utensils. — ^They have 2 small iron pots, which have long been in use. 

 In these they boiled their pork, peas, &c. They have likewise 2 brass skillets. 



