218 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 1765, . 



ing to Mons. Puy such was in some instances the form of the disorder in Dau- 

 phiny, 



Was the mortification which made such havoc in the family of J. Downing, 

 of Wattisham, in Jan. 1762, and which has been described by Mr. Bones, (gg) 

 Dr. Wollaston,(hh) and Dr. Parsons, (ii) the same disease? Dr. T. thinks it 

 was. 



But the same cause, viz. spurred rye, did not operate; there was, however, 

 damaged wheat, of which bad bread was made, and which produced a slighter 

 degree of the same disorder in another person. The gangrene which attacked 

 Downing's family, is therefore to be imputed to the wheat, which, according to 

 Dr. Wollaston, was black and corrupted. 



But why should this family have been disordered more than others ? 



1 . In Silesia 1 whole families were destroyed, in consequence (it may be in- 

 ferred) of some predisposition. In Sologne 1 brothers had the disorder more 

 severely than the rest. At Blois only a single individual appears to have been ill 

 of it. Other observations show that some persons are very readily afFectfed with 

 gangrene. (kk) 2. In Silesia the disorder particularly attacked children; the 

 English patients were young persons, and a mother weakened by giving suck. 

 3. They were all lean and unhealthy, a proof of a vapid blood. 4. It has been 

 observed in other places that the disease was aggravated by a damp and confined 

 air, by pork and bacon, and by a milk diet; all which circumstances concurred 

 in Downing's family. 5. This poor family lived not only upon bad bread, 

 but also upon bad mutton, bad bacon and bad pease; each of which must have 

 contributed its share towards exciting the gangrene. 6. The disorder was not 

 contagious. 



Lausanne, Junel^th, 1764. 



XVIJI. Observations for Settling the Proportion which the Decrease of Heat 

 bears to the Height of Situation. By Thomas Heberden, M.D., F.R.S. 

 - p. 126. 



The remarkable transition from heat to cold in all seasons, in proportion as 

 we ascend the mountains here, [Teneriffe,] induced Dr. H. to make the follow- 

 ing observations, with intention to discover if there subsists any regularity 

 between the difference of heat and the elevation of situation. For which pur- 

 pose, besides several observations made at different times, without any remark- 

 able variation, he took the opportunity of a journey of some English gentlemen 



(gg) Phil. Trans. Vol. 52. Vol. xi. p. 626 & 628, of these Abridgments. 



(hh) Ibid. 



(ii) Medical Museum, Vol. I. p. 442. Vol. II. p. 499- 



(kk) Quesnay de Gangraena, p. 413. 



