23 * 
Dr. schwediawer’s Account 
bergrife is found, feem not only torpid and lick, but are alfo con- 
ftantly leaner than others ; fo that, if we may judge from the 
conftant union of thefe two circumftances, it would feem that a 
larger collection of ambergrife in the belly of the whale is a fource 
of difeafe, and probably fometimes the caule of its death. As foon 
as they hook a whale of this defcription, torpid, fickly, ema- 
ciated, or one that does not dung on being hooked, they im- 
mediately either cut up the above-mentioned protuberance, if 
there be any, or they rip open its bowels from the orifice of 
the anus, and find the ambergrife, fometimes in one fome- 
times in different lumps of generally from three to twelve and 
more inches in diameter, and from one pound to twenty or 
thirtv pounds in weight, at the diftance of two, but moft fre- 
quently of about fix or feven feet from the anus* and never 
higher up in the inteftinal canal, which, according to their de- 
fcription, is, in all probability, the inteftinum caecum, hither- 
to miftaken for a peculiar bag made by nature for the fecretion 
and collection of this, lingular fubftance. That the- part they 
cut open to come at the ambergrife is no other than the intef- 
tinal canal is certain, becaufe they conftantly begin their inci- 
fion at the anus, and find the cavity every where filled with 
the faeces of the whale, which from their colour and fmell it 
is impofiible for them to miftake. The ambergrife found in 
the inteftinal canal is not fo hard as that which is found on the 
lea or fea-coaft, but foon grows hard in the air: when firfl 
taken out it has nearly the fame colour, and the fame difagree- 
able fmell, though not fo ftrong, as the more liquid dung of 
the whale has ; but, on expofing it to the air, it by degrees not 
only grows greyilh, and its furface is covered with a greyilh 
duft like old chocolate, but it alfo lofes its difagreeable fmell* 
and, when kept for a certain length of time, acquires the pecu- 
liar odour which is fo agreeable to moft people. 
5 
The 
