[ 5*9 ] 
morning in the middle of a fen, flack fail in mud as 
deep as his bread:. He was very voracious, and would 
frequently call for fomething to eat ; which was the 
only indication he gave of his knowing any thino-. N 0 
kind of filth or naftinefs can be conceived, which he 
would not eat or drink without diftindtion. He ap- 
pealed to be as ill as he really was ; for he was become 
a mold fhocking fpedfacle. He was fo much emaci- 
ated, that he feemed to have no flefh upon his bones ; 
and his body fo diflorted, that he was rendered quite 
a cripple. His parents confulted a phyfician at Nor- 
wich, w'ho very judicioufly (as it will appear) con- 
fidered his diforder as a worm-cafe, and prefcribed 
for it accordingly ; but (being afraid, I prefume, to 
give too violent medicines to the boy) without fuc- 
cefs. In fhort, he was fo fmgularly affli&ed, that 
Ins paien«.s told me tney could not help thinking him 
under fome evil influence. 
It was obferved, that his diforder varied, and <mew 
worfe, at certain periods of the moon. 
In thefe miferable circumftances the poor boy con- 
tinued to languifh, till he was about eleven years of 
a g e (July 1 7 f 7 )> when he accidentally found a mix- 
ture of white lead * and oil, which had fome time 
before been prepared for fome purpofe of painting, 
fet by on a fhelf, and placed, as it was thought, out 
of his reach. There was near half a pint of this 
mixture when he found it $ and, as he did not leave 
, 1^ * 3 n ° L improbable, that a confiderable portion of whitin^ 
might be ufed inftead of pure white lead, which is frequently 
done : and this fuppofition is favoured by the mixture’s not proving 
fatal to the boy, as fuch a quantity of white lead in all probability 
would. 1 
much. 
