VOL. LX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 21 



axilla. He therefore continued the use of the fotus, warm dressings, &c. as be- 

 fore; strewing over the fungi well with the pulv. angel. Yet they continued to 

 sprout to a great height, and, though he pared away at every dressing all the 

 dead surfoce with the knife, they baffled all endeavours to suppress them. 



In this manner it continued to go on till the first of January, in the after- 

 noon of which the patient began to complain greatly of being cold ; and, though 

 the warmest and most invigorating medicines were given, he grew more and 

 more so, till about 11 or 12, when he expired. Neither before nor after death 

 was there the least appearance of a mortification having taken place. However, 

 in order, if possible, to investigate the true cause of his death, and to satisfy 

 themselves whether the artery was or was not divided, in the presence of the 

 other surgeons, Mr. W. laid open the wounded parts, and passing a probe 

 through the artery at a transverse incision made above the wound, carefully dis- 

 sected away the surrounding integuments, and thereby discovered a perforation 

 (about the size of a small pea) made through the coats of one side of the 

 artery. They were all at a loss to account, why there never ensued any haemorr- 

 hage from so considerable a vessel's being opened, as no eschar could well have 

 formed, nor yet appeared there any constriction or compression ; and yet it 

 appeared as plain, that the course of the blood was thoroughly intercepted in 

 that vessel, by there never being the least pulsation at the wrist after the 

 acciilent. 



The cause of his death too at last seems to be pretty unaccountable, as no 

 mortification ensued, which one would have expecica to have been the natural 

 consequence of the blood's being so intercepted. If, owh.g to the shock given 

 the constitution, or remora to the circulation, should not one have wicpected the 

 ill consequences would have been felt sooner ? whereas, for nearly the first w«ek 

 no patient with so considerable a wound could go on better, no wound could 

 have a better aspect, or digest better. By the repeated bleeding, lenient ca- 

 thartics, and proper topical relaxing applications, all degree of tension was hap- 

 pily kept off, little or no symptomatic fever attended, and seemingly every ill 

 symptom was obviated. In what manner then shall we conclude death at last 

 to have been brought about so long after, since he neither sunk under discharge 

 from the wound, had no fever or convulsion, and no mortification ever appeared? 

 and what shall we assign to be the true reason of no haemorrhage ensuing, since 

 there was so manifest an aperture through the coats of the artery ? This he con- 

 fesses himself wholly at a loss to account for. 



XIII. Journal of a Voyage, made by Order of the Royal Society, to Churchill 

 River, on the North-west Coast of HudsorC s Bay ; of 13 Months Residence 



