C 5 20 ] 
much, it is thought he fwallowed about a quarter 
of a pint of it. There was alfo fome lamp-black in 
the compofition ; which was added to give it a pro- 
per colour for the particular ufe it was intended for 
in painting. It was, as I fuppofe it ufually is, linfeed 
oil, which had been mixed with the lead and lamp- 
black. 
The draught began to operate very foon, by vomit- 
ing and purging him for near 24 hours in the moft 
violent manner. A large quantity of black inky 
matter was difcharged ; and an infinite number of 
worms, almoft as fmall as threads, were voided. 
Thefe operations were fo intenfe, that his life was 
defpaired of But he has not only furvived them, 
but experienced a moft wonderful change and im- 
provement after them : for his parents aftured me in 
November 1 757, when I faw him, that he had daily 
grown better from the time of his drinking the mix- 
ture, both in body and mind. Inftead of a fkeleton, 
as he almoft was before, he is become fat, and ra- 
ther corpulent : and his appetite is no longer raven- 
ous, but moderate and common. His body too is 
become ftraight and eredt. His underftanding is at 
leaft as much benefited by this peculiar remedy. It 
cannot be expedted, that he fhould already have at- 
tained much knowlege, as he feemed, before he was 
fo wonderfully relieved, to be almoft deftitute of 
ideas. But he appeared, when I faw him, to have 
acquired nearly as much knowlege in four months, 
as children ufually do in four years; and to reafon 
pretty well on thofe things, which he knew. He is 
now capable of being employed on many occafions; 
is often fent a mile or two on errands, which he dif- 
charges 
