516 
ASPHYXIA. 
decaying, be came from Bristol to Bath in a litter, in autumn, and 
lay at the Bell inn. 
“ Dr. Baynard, who is since dead, and I, W'ere called to him, and 
attended him twice a day for about the space of a week, but his vomit- 
ings continuing still incessant, and obstinate against all remedies, we 
despaired of his recovery. While he was in this condition, he sent 
for us early one morning : we waited on him, with Mr. Skrine his 
apothecary, since dead also ; W'e found his senses clear and his mind 
calm; his nurse and several servants being about him. He had made 
his will, and settled his affairs. He told us he had sent for us to give 
him some account of an odd sensation he had for some time observed 
and felt within himself ; which was, that, composing himself, he 
could die or expire when he pleased, and yet, by an effort, or some 
how, he could come to life again ; which it seems he had sometimes 
tried before he had sent for us. 
“ W^e heard this with surprise, but as it w'as not to be accounted 
for from common principles, we could hardly believe the fact as he 
related it, much less give any account of it, unless he should please 
to make the experiment before us, which w^e were unwilling he should 
do, lest in his weak condition he might carry it too far. 
He continued to talk very distinctly and sensibly above a quarter 
of an hour about this surprising sensation, and insisted so much on 
our seeing the trial made, that w'e were at last forced to comply. 
We all three felt his pulse first; it was distinct, though small and 
thready, and his heart had its usual beating. He composed himself 
on his back, and lay in a still position ; while I held his right hand. 
Dr. Baynard laid his hand on his heart, and Dr. Skrine held a 
clear looking-glass to-his mouth. I found his pulse sink gradually, 
till I could not feel any by the most exact and nice touch. Dr. Bay- 
nard could not observe the least motion in his heart, nor Mr. Skrine the 
least soil of breath on the bright mirror he held to his mouth ; then 
each of us by turns examined his arm, heart, and breast, but could not 
by the nicest scrutiny discover the least symptom of life in him. We 
reasoned a long time about this odd appearance, as well as we could ; 
and all of us judging it inexplicable and unaccountable, and finding 
he still continued in that condition, we began to conclude that he had 
indeed carried the experiment too far, and at last were satisfied he 
was actually dead, and were just ready to leave him. This continued 
about half an hour, at nine o’clock in the morning, in autumn. As 
we w'ere going away, we observed some motion about the body, and, 
upon examination, found his pulse and the motion of his heart gradu- 
ally returning ; he began to breathe gently, and speak softly ; w^e 
were all astonished to the last degree at this unexpected change, and 
after some further conversation with him, and among ourselves, went 
away fully satisfied as to ail the particulars of this fact, but confounded 
and puzzled, and not able to form any rational scheme that might 
account for it. He afterwards called for his attorney, added a 
codicil to his w'ill, settled legacies on his servants, received the 
sacrament, and calmly and composedly expired about six o’clock that 
evening. 
“ Next day he was opened, but his body was the soundest and best 
