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large, and a Difficulty of breathing increafed continu- 
ally upon her ^ infomuch that for the laid fix Months, 
flie had fcarce breath’d at all but with the utmoft Dif- 
ficulty. That in all that Space of Time, having quite 
loft her Appetite, (he had fcarce eat fo much as would 
nourifh a fucking Child ^ and that for three Months to- 
gether fhe had now been forc’d to lie conftantly on her 
Back, not daring to move at all, to one fide or other. 
This Tumour was grown to fo monftrous a Bulk, 
that it engrofs’d the whole left Side, from the 'Umbili- 
cus to the Tubes , and ftretch’d the Abdominal Mufcles, 
to fo unequal a Degree, that I don’t remember ever to 
have feen the like in the whole Courfe of my Pradice. 
It drew towards a Point. Her being fo long confined to 
lie continually on her Back, having grievoufly excori- 
ated her, added much to her Sufferings, which, with 
want of Reft and Appetite, had wafted her to Skin and 
Bone, as the poor Woman herfelf expreffed it. Indeed fhe 
needed not to have told me fo, my Eyes were too faith- 
ful Witneffes of her low and wretched Condition. 
Scarce able to fpeak out, fhe told me, that having 
heard much of my Succefs, fhe had ftrong Hopes of 
Relief, provided I would try at leaft, and do fome- 
rhing in Pity to her Affliction. 
I anfwer’d her that I was willing, but afraid, in her 
low State, fhe would want Strength to undergo a large 
Incifion:, that in order effectually to relieve her, I muft 
be oblig’d to lay open a great Part of her Belly, and 
remove the Caufe of all that Swelling : fhe feem’d not 
frightened, but heard me without Diforder, and, as if 
infpir’d with fudden Courage, prefs’d, and urg’d me to 
the Operation. 
I drew (I muft confefs) almoft all my Confidence 
from her unexpected Resolution, fo that without lofs 
of Time, 1 prepared what the Place would allow, and 
Vol. XXXIII. C with 
