180 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [ANNO 1782. 



was unable to wash away. The lock has effectually prevented this for the future, 

 by the river being kept always high, broad, and spacious; and has thus con- 

 tributed to the salubrity as well as beauty of York. 



IV. Account of a monstrous Birth. In a Letter from John Torlese, Esq., 

 Chief of Anjingo, to the Hon. William Hornbey, Governor of Bombay. 

 Dated April 5, 1780. p. 44. 



As I know you are curious with respect to the productions of nature, I have 

 taken the liberty to inclose you a drawing of a child which a Nair woman was 

 delivered of the 28th of March at midnight, and which lived till the 1st of April 

 in the morning. In the afternoon I went to see it in company with Mr. Hut- 

 chenson and Dr. Crozier. It had but 1 body, at the extremity of which were 

 2 heads, 1 larger than the other. It had 4 hands and arms perfect, 2 legs on 1 

 side its body, and 1 on the other, which began on the middle of its back, 

 and appeared by nature intended for 2 by its size and from the appearance of the 

 foot, which looked as if 2 had been squeezed or rather mashed together. It had 

 but 1 navel, and 1 anus, but 2 genitals of the female. It was fed during its 

 short existence by hand with goat's milk. It is remarkable, that 1 head would 

 sleep while the other was awake; or 1 would cry and the other not. They both 

 died at the same instant. 



V. Experiments with Chinese Hemp-Seed. By Keane Fitzgerald, Esq. p. 46. 

 A few grains of Chinese hemp-seed had been given to me by the late 



Mr. Elliot, brother to Gen. Elliot, who had formerly resided for some time in 

 China. He told me, the hemp in that country was deemed superior to that of 

 any other, both for fineness and strength, and wished I would try whether it 

 would come to maturity in this kingdom. He gave me between 30 and 40grs. 

 of seed for the purpose, which I laid by, as I thought, carefully, with intent of 

 sowing them the spring following, which is the usual time of sowing hemp in 

 this country; but I had unluckily forgotten where I laid them, and did not find 

 them till the beginning of last June, by which time I imagined them to be very 

 unfit for vegetation; but as I concluded they would be still more so by keeping 

 them till the succeeding April, I had them sowed the 4th day of that month, 

 and was much surprized to find that 32 of the seeds had vegetated strongly, and 

 grown to an amazing size, several of the plants measuring in height more than 

 14 feet, and nearly 7 inches in circumference, by the middle of October follow- 

 ing, at which time they came into bloom. There were from 30 to 40 lateral 

 branches on a plant; these were set oft" in pairs, one on each side of the stem 

 pointing horizontally; the others at about 5 or inches distance from them, 



