2q6 philosophical transactions. [anno 1787» 



succeeded a 5th child, larger than any of the former, and born alive. These 5 

 children were all females ; 2 were born alive ; and the whole operation was per- 

 formed in the space of 50 minutes. The first made its appearance at 2 in the 

 afternoon, and the last at 10 minutes before 3. Each child presented naturally 

 was preceded by a separate burst of water, and was delivered by the natural pains 

 only. In a short time after the birth of the last, the placenta was expelled by 

 nature without any haemorrhage, was uncommonly large, and in some places 

 beginning to be putrid. It consisted of one uniform continued cake, and was 

 not divided into distinct placentulae, the lobulated appearance being nearly equal 

 all over. Each funis was contained in a separate cell, within which each child 

 had been lodged ; and it was easy to perceive, by the state of the funis, and that 

 part of the placenta to which it adhered, in which sac the dead, and in which 

 the living children had been contained. I examined the septa of the cells very 

 carefully, but could not divide them as usual into distinct laminae, nor determine 

 which was chorion or which amnios. I could not prevail on the good women to 

 allow me to carry it home, to be more narrowly inspected ; and I submitted more 

 readily to their prejudice for its being burned, as its very soft texture seemed to 

 render it hardly capable to bear injection. The 2 living children having survived 

 their birth but a short time, I was allowed to carry them home ; and I have 

 preserved the whole 5 in spirits, and have since weighed and measured them, 

 and find their proportions to be as follows in Avoirdupois weight, inches and 

 parts. 



Oz. Dr. Inches. 



The 1st born dead 6 12 Length 9 



The 2d putrid 4 6 8^ 



The 3d alive 8 12 9^ 



The 4th putrid 6 12 9| 



The 5th alive 9 — 91 



The mother, in spite of the crowds with which her chamber was continually 

 filled, continued to recover, and was able to be out of bed on the 27th and 28th, 

 her 3d and 4th days ; but finding herself then weak, by my advice, kept her bed 

 till the 11th of May, when she v/ent out of doors, and on the 21st walked to 

 Blackburn, 2 miles distant. This was the 27th day from her delivery, she 

 having entirely recovered her strength without any accident. It may not be 

 improper to add, that the husband of this woman has been in an infirm state of 

 health for 3 years past, and is now labouring under a confirmed phthisis. 



Signed, John Hull. 



Blackburn, Lancashire, June 9, 1786. 



Observations on Numerous Births, — Though the females of the human 

 species produce most commonly but 1 child at a birth ; and though their forma- 

 tion with only 2 breasts, and I nipple to each, renders it probable they were not 



