VOL. LXIV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SSQ 



dancing on each ear of the horse that I rode, and several others much brighter 

 on the end of my stick, which was armed with a ferule of brass, but notched 

 with using. These appearances continued till I reached the tarnpike-house, 

 where I took shelter. Presently after, there came up 5 or 6 graziers, whom I 

 had passed on the road. They had all seen the appearance, and were much 

 astonished. One of them, in particular, called for a candle, to examine 

 his horse's head, saying, " It had been all on fire, and must certainly be singed." 

 After having continued about 20 minutes, the storm abated, and the clouds 

 divided, leaving the northern region very clear; except that, about 10 degrees 

 high, there was a thick cloud, which seemed to throw out large and exceedingly 

 beautiful streams of light, resembling an aurora borealis, towards another cloud 

 that was passing over it; and, every now and then, there appeared to fall to it 

 such meteors as are called falling stars. These appearances continued till I came 

 to Wakefield; but no thunder was heard. About Q o'clock a large ball of fire 

 passed under the zenith, towards the s. e. part of the horizon. I have been 

 informed that a light was observed on the weathercock of Wakefield spire, 

 which is about 240 feet high, all the time that the storm continued. 



XXXf^III. Account of a Woman enjoying ike Use of her right Arm after the 

 Head of the Os Humeri was cut away. By James Bent, Surgeon, at New- 

 castle, p. 353. 



Mr. White, of Manchester, in the history of an operation performed on the 

 humerus, published in his treatise, entitled. Surgical Cases, with Remarks, and 

 read before the r. s., Feb. 9, 1769; asserts, that he sawed off the upper head 

 of that bone; and that his patient enjoyed the entire use of the joint. As the 

 supposition of the head of the bone, with its ligaments, &c. being regenerated, 

 must appear a little marvellous, and may prevent some from paying that attend 

 tion to the operation, that it certainly merits, Mr. B. flattered himself the 

 following case would not be unacceptable to the r. s., as it proves, that the 

 operation is not only practicable, but adviseable; and, at the same time, points 

 out the nature of Mr. White's mistake. In pi. 6, fig. 1, he has given a 

 drawing of the bone he cut off; the bare inspection of which is sufficient to 

 convince any one, that it could be only the body of the humerus that was 

 carious, and separated from its epyphysis; as the round head, with its cartilage, 

 is wanting; and Mr. B. believes, there are few instances where the whole he;id 

 of any bone is so entirely destroyed, in 2 or 3 weeks, by a caries, as that draw- 

 ing represents. Hence it appears that the joint, with its capsular ligament, 

 remained in a sound state. He is further confirmed in this opinion, by attending 

 to the description Mr. W. has given of his mode of performing the operation, 

 (vide p. 58) where he says, " that he began his incisions at the orifice which was 



3 z 2 



\ 



