C " ) 
Gorps being laid as advantagioufly as might te) we 
began our Incifion from the Vmllitcus tranfVers the Ah- 
domeny to the Ilia: And troai the fame centre amthtr 
Incifioa dlrefl: to the Os Palis. Here was now an ex- 
pedation on all hands of fomething rare and Monftrous, 
when on a fudden one of the Dillccaers ( little think- 
ing what was fo near ) in cutting through the Perito- 
mum, accidentally thruft his Knife too tar, and imme- 
diately there arolS a Spring, as it were, of a limpid Se- 
rum or Lympha, as clear as Water from a Fountain, rifing 
up a very confiderable height, and with great impe- 
tuofity. 
This put an end as well to Conjefture as Difpute, we 
now fully concluding the Diftemper to be an Hydrops 
Vteri, or a Dropfie contained within the Cavity of the 
Womb. Having emptied the containing part of its 
Water, which in quantity did fomewhat exceed two Gal- 
lons or eightvQuarts ; we proceeded to fatisfie our felves 
wherein this Deluge had been contained, we found its 
enclo.fure was a thin tranfparent Membrane; and yet 
notwithflanding its extraordinary Dilation, I could not 
perfwade my felf that it was the entire Body of the 
Vterus it felf : Upon a more ftrift fearch, when I turned 
this Membrane to the right fide, I perceived underneath 
this outward .'Tunic, or (as I thought) adhering to it, 
a more carnous Subftance. To clear this fufpicion the 
Os Pubis was divided, which finding very difficult to be 
performed with a Knife, I finilh'd with a fmall Saw. 
I cannot choofe but take notice in this place, of fome ^ 
People's over-credulity, and to wonder that we fhould be 
fo eafily perfwaded to fet the Light of our Under ftand- 
ing in the dark Lanthorn of Authority, when we take 
for granted, that thefe Bones, viz, the Share or Pubes, 
do (eparate or part afunder of their own accord in time 
ofii Travel, in order to facilitate the Birth of the Fcsrus,, 
