( ) 
V. An Account of an Extra-Uterine Foetus y taken 
out of a Woman after Deathj that had continued 
five Fears and an half in the !Body. !By Robert 
* Houftoun, M. 
I Was fent for m Auguji 1717^ to a Woman near 
FJewport- Market^ who had been married eighteen 
Years to a Native of the Eaji Indies^ by whom ftie 
had eight Children, befides two Mifcarriages. At my 
viliting her, now, (he was with Child in a fecond Mar- 
riage, and her Husband a vigorous young Man. 
She was near her full Time, and had felt Pains for 
feveral Days, which, returning by Intervals, (he con- 
cluded, would, as ufual, bring on her Delivery. Her 
Mother and her Midwife, apprehending no Difhcuity, 
alTured thofe about her, that only Time was wanting. 
But I found, on Examination, that her Womb was 
of no Bulk to contain a Child near its Time*, and that 
its Neck, of an uncommon Hardnefs, was alfo clos’d fo 
ftraitly, as to* refufe the lead Admidion, even of a 
fmail Probe or knitting Needle. 
I declared upon this, that her Delivery was impol^ 
(ible 5 becaufe the Child was not within the Womb, 
but between the Womb and the Guts : That it might 
be remov’d by a Paffage to be made for it, without 
any great Pain, and with Safety to the Mother. I of- 
fer’d to undertake it, and alTur’d them, that this was 
the only Opportunity ^ and that if (he negleded it, it 
P p p would 
