Mr Livingstone on a Chinese Lusus Nature. 1S5 
euriositati adstantium satisfaciendi causa, urinam reddere de- 
ficit. 
A-ke’s respiration is never perfectly free : on the contrary, it 
is commonly laborious, and on the slightest exertion, such as 
walking to a little distance, ascending a flight of steps, or the 
like, he breathes quickly, and with difficulty. To relieve this 
he supports the parasite with his hands ; but to obtain any con- 
siderable degree of ease, a recumbent posture is necessary. His 
pulse is commonly quick and small. Mr Gomez felt distinctly 
the pulsation of the carotids in the neck of the parasite ; it was 
feeble. He also examined carefully the pulse at the wrists ; it 
was very slow, ( valde lente ). 
The usual temperature of both is natural. A-ke wears an 
unusual quantity of clothes, yet he never appears to perspire, 
even in the warmest weather. His usual gait is unsteady and 
feeble ; when he walks up or down stairs, he supports himself 
with one hand, and his brother with the other, and brings both 
his feet upon the same step, before he attempts to advance an- 
other foot. 
When in his best state of health, he informed Mr Gomez his 
appetite was so good, that he could take as much food as any 
three of his age ; at present his health in general is much im- 
paired. He complains of weakness of stomach, loss of appetite, 
defective and painful digestion ; so it is commonly thought that 
he cannot live long. His countenance is sallow, and more ema- 
ciated than it appears in the model. 
A-ke’s father is one of the poorest class of husbandmen. He 
has been content to hire his son for five Spanish dollars a month 
to the man, who has for his trouble all the profits of the exhibi- 
tion. Ten cash (less than a penny Sterling) is the price of ad- 
mittance into the inclosure, which they make in public places. 
He walks to private houses ; the parasite appearing while going 
through the streets like a tumor under his clothes. On these 
occasions the exhibitor is content to receive whatever is given. 
He commonly gets half a dollar or a dollar. The concern does 
not appear to be profitable. 
Having stated all the circumstances of this wonderful and 
most interesting case, as fully as they have come to my know- 
ledge, I might be excused from making any observations, — the 
