[ 240 ] 
1 r f ) ft*. 7 7 * * v . - r , » 
taken Mercury's only s/'-f, imagining the precife Mo- 
ments of the firft and laft exterior Contafts are not 
obfervable; but that the Ingrefs is feen fome little 
time later, and the Egrefs fooner, than the true times 
thereof. I have all along fpoke of the Motion of 
Mercury , without mentioning that of the Sun, where- 
as, in Reality, it is that of them both jointly ; but as 
we may fuppofe the Sun to ft arid ftill during the Tranfity 
it will then be confidered as the apparent Motion 
of Mercury alone for that Time. 
- ■ — ... ■ . 
' • ' ' • - J - -4 A > • > / i 1 , t i ■ , 
VII- A Letter from Mr . Robert Campbell of 
Kernan, to T)r. Mortimer, Seer. R. S. con- 
cerning a Man who lived Eighteen Tears 
on Water. 
\ 1 -* c ’i* • ' ; 1 - • C*' f ' - • ■ ' 
. SIR, Dec . x. 1742. 
Dec> 9 - HPHO UGH unknown, at the Requeft 
I742 ‘ JL of Mr .Malcom, I trouble you with 
an Account of the extraordinary Abftinence of John 
Ferguifon , a Native of the Paroch of Ktllmellfoord in 
the Shire of Argyle. 
About 18 Years ago he happened to overheat him- 
fclf on the Mountains, in Purfuit of Cattle, and in 
that Condition drank excellively of cold W ater from 
a Rivulet, near by which he fell afleep he awaked 
about 24 Hours after in a high Fever : During the 
‘Paroxyfm of the Fever, and ever fince that time, his 
Stomach loaths, and can retain, no kind of Aliment, 
except Water, or clarified Whey, which laft he ufes 
but feldom, there being no fuch thing to be had by 
Perfons 
