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child ; but about that age was afflicted with ftoppages, 
which often threw him into convulfive fits, and at 
laft rendered him quite an idiot. He continued in 
this condition for about four years, eating and drink- 
ing all that time any thing that came in his way, 
even his own excrements, if not narrowly watched. 
His father took the advice of feveral eminent phyfi- 
cians, both at Norwich and elfewhere ^ but all their 
prefcriptions proved of no fervice. 
About the beginning of Auguft laft he happened 
to get at a painting-pot, wherein there was about a 
pound of white lead and lamp-black mixed up with 
linfeed oik This he eat almoft all up before he was 
difcovered. It vomited and purged him, and brought 
away prodigious numbers of fmall worms. In a 
few days he grew well, his fenfes returned, and he 
is now able to give as rational anfwers as can be ex- 
pected from a boy of his age. His appetite is good, 
he is very brifk, and has not had the leaf! return of 
his former diforder. 
I heard of the above by feveral people ; but not 
being fatisfied, got my friend to go to Mr. Poftle’s 
houfe, of whom he had the foregoing account. 
January 12th, 1758. 
LXVII, 
