VOL. LXI,} PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONa. WQ 



In 5 weeks after her delivery, the tumour had greatly increased in all its 

 dimensions; and its protuberances, which to the feel seemed to resemble the 

 head, trunk, and extremities of an extra-uterine foetus, became more palpable 

 and distinct, as the abdominal muscles from their distension became thinner. 

 He brought 10 physicians, surgeons, and accoucheurs to visit her; and they 

 were all so mucli deceived as to be of opinion, that the tumour was an extra- 

 uterine foetus: however they were deterred from attempting the Caesarean 

 operation, from a conviction that she was too weak, hectical, and reduced, to 

 encourage any hopes of her recovery, in case it had been performed; and there- 

 fore they determined to leave the event to nature, especially as they could per- 

 ceive no motion of any particular parts of the tumour, though it had greatly 

 increased, and as it was possible that it might be some other tumour. She con- 

 tinued gradually declining; the tumour and symptoms increasing, during May 

 and June; and the 23d of July following, Dr. P. perceived a small fluctuation of 

 water in her abdomen, and gave her an intimation of it, which determined her 

 to procure another nurse for her infant; but the ascites daily increased, and in g 

 or 10 days after, her legs and feet became oedematous, her night sweats still 

 continued, though her dropsy augmented, and she languished under the acute 

 pains, more frequent retchings, hectic fever, loss of strength, want of appetite; 

 and restless nights, except when she took an opiate, which often proved a great 

 relief and refreshment to her. Her posture in bed now was half sitting, half 

 lying, which was the only position she could bear without great pain and short- 

 ness of breathing. 



About 7 days before her death, she was seized with a smart lax, which, in a 

 few days, carried oiFpart of the swelling in her left leg; she became somewhat 

 lighter, and less distressed in her breathing, which made her vainly hope, that 

 her disorder might be carried off in that manner; but the tumour, weakness,, 

 and other symptoms increased, till the 2d of Sept. instant when she expired. 



On opening her abdomen, in presence of 7 gentlemen of the faculty, they 

 found about a gallon of water, and a large steatomatous tumour just under the 

 peritoneum, near 3 inches in thickness, 7 inches in length from her stomach to 

 the obtuse angle of her ribs, and in some places near 5 inches in breadth from her 

 sternum to the vertebrae of her back, full of prominences of different sizes. It 

 was of a hard consistence, like tallow in its anterior part, but softer posteriorly, 

 and divided by thin membranes into numerous cells, which were distended with 

 hard and softer fat; it weighed 7 lb., was of an irregular figure, adhered to, and 

 compressed, the anterior part of her stomach, and was so firmly united to the 

 inferior surface of the liver, that it could not be separated from it without force. 

 It pressed and concealed the colon, and extended from the stomach by her liver 

 to the right ovarium, and vertebrae of her back : the small guts were greatly 



