476 Mr. Martineav’s Account Of, Stes. 
the water. The other vifcera appeared all in a natural flate. 
‘The inteftines were quite empty, and puthed up under the ribs,. 
fo as to have left but very little room for the expanfion of the 
lungs within the thorax. The bladder was contracted, or rather I 
fhould fay appeared leflened. ‘The kidneys were healthy, and 
both ureters in a natural ftate. The fac is in thé colleGion. 
of Jon Hunter, efq. | 
In reflecting upon this cafe, an obvious quefticn. arifes ;. 
from whence proceeded this immenfe colle@ion of water ? 
At different periods of this poor woman’s life the quantity 
drawn off, without confidering the urine fhe made, was 
much greater than the fluids fhe drank, which appeared from: 
meafuring whatever fhe took. It appears then pretty certain, 
that this {uperabundant quantity muft have been taken into the 
body by abforption ; and if we allow the bodies of animals to: 
have this power of abforbing, which we very well know vege- 
tables are poflefled of, it will account for many appearances in 
the animal ceconomy. This poor woman collected fafter in the: 
wet moift months of winter, than in fummer. 
From all, this happy conclufion may be drawn, that although: 
human art is at prefent infufficient to the perfect cure of difeafes. 
fimilar to the poor woman’s cafe I have related, yet nature 1s. 
continually defending herfelf from fudden death; and fuch 
relief may be granted as to protract life a long time without 
much pain, and often with intervals. of great eafe and comfort. 
=e 


