MISCELLANEA. 
119 
A CURIOUS “ CASE.” 
To the Editor of “ The Lancet.” 
SIR, — I have lately received a communication from Dr. White, 
of the 13th Bengal cavalry, which may prove interesting to the 
readers of The Lancet. He states, “ that a fowl belonging to an 
officer stationed at Peshawer laid an egg, so singular in appear- 
ance, on account of its great length (four inches) and narrowness, 
that he determined to preserve the shell. For this purpose he 
punctured the ends, intending to remove the interior by breath- 
ing forcibly through it; he was surprised to find the needle 
strike against a hard substance, and on shaking the egg he felt 
the more assured that it must contain something abnormal. On 
breaking the shell, another perfect egg was found, with a 
hardened shell, containing ymlk and albumen, as in the first. 
We read of two eggs united at the ends by the membrana 
putaminis, and also of others containing a blasted ovum, double 
or triple yolks, &c.; but I believe this is the only authentic 
record of a perfect egg with hardened shell being found in the 
interior of one also normal ; and it would seem to determine 
points on which some difference of opinion has existed among 
physiologists. Firstly, it proves that the shell of the egg is 
hardened without being exposed to the atmosphere, although it 
has been believed that the induration of the earthy deposit de- 
pends on the absorption of carbonic acid from atmospheric con- 
tact; as the exterior shell was perfect, this explanation can no 
longer be considered satisfactory. Secondly, that the membrana 
testae with its earthy envelope are both products of the oviduct, 
and that it is not the case, as has been affirmed by one author, 
that the shell is only an uterine secretion. 
Your’s obediently, 
W. H. Ashley, M.D. 
Boyne-terrace, Notting-hill, Oc. 1850. 
SNEEZING EXTRAORDINARY. 
Mr. Editor, — I AM induced to trouble you with the relation 
of an extraordinary circumstance that occurred lately in our 
manege, and which, perhaps, will put to a hard test the credulity 
of some of your readers as well as yourself The coachman 
was taking one of our ponies an airing a few mornings ago, and 
