ON Sunday evening the 5th of June 1757, being walking in the fields
near Islington, about half a mile north of the upper reservoir or bason
of the New River, I observed the sun to sink beneath the visible
horizon to the north-west, it being very clear in that quarter, except
some thin clouds a little above the horizon, which were painted of fine
red and golden colours, as is usual when the sun sets in a calm clear
evening. But about 20 minutes after sun-set, as near as I could judge,
it then being darkish, I was greatly surprised to see an Iris in the
dusky air, at a height greater than is seen at any time in the rainbow.
It was in the contrary quarter of the heavens to the setting sun, and
fell on the smoke, mists, and evening vapours arising from the city of
London and its neighbourhood. The arch seemed to be a full half circle,
tho’ its lower parts fell some degrees short of the horizon. It was
very distinctly seen for about 15 minutes. Its colours the same as in
the rainbow, but fainter. The lower ends of the bow arose gradually
higher from the earth, as the sun declined beneath the horizon, until
the whole arch disappeared. The center of the arch was above the
horizon at its first appearance. What most perplexed me, was, to find
the cause of this painted arch. I could not believe, that it proceeded
from the sun-beams falling on rain; for there had been none that
afternoon; nor was there any sort of signs of rain or rainy clouds to
be seen; the wind being northerly, and the air cool, and somewhat hazy
in the quarter where the bow appeared; which was not near so bright as
the rainbow appears to be in the day-time; and I believe, that it would
not have been visible at all in the presence of the sun. I imagine it
was formed on the gross particles of the evening vapours, mixed with
those of the smoke arising from the town; for had the sun-beams shot
from beneath the horizon on falling rain at a considerable height above
the earth, I believe the darkness would have rendered the appearance of
such a bow far brighter than it appears to the sight in the presence of
the sun: but this night or evening arch being reflected, as I suppose,
from particles so minute as those of floating vapours, gave but little
light and colour to the sight, and what would not have been visible,
had the sun been above the horizon. For the same reason, the moon and
stars are visible in the absence of the sun, and, on the contrary, are
unseen when the sun is present: and if we light a candle, and set it
in the sun-beams, the flame is lost to our sight, tho’ the same candle
will give us a considerable share of light in the night. As I have
never before seen or heard of such an arch, I thought this account of
it (imperfect as it is) might not be disagreeable to the Royal Society.
It could not be a lunar arch, the moon being then many degrees below
the horizon, and the arch in a place, where it could not be affected
by the moon’s rays. The consciousness of my inability to give a proper
account of such an uncommon appearance could not deter me from the
attempt.
I think I have said all that is necessary on this subject; yet am ready
to answer any question for the farther illustrating of it. I am,
Reverend Sir,
Your most humble Servant,
Geo. Edwards.
College of Physicians, London, June 6th, 1757.
XXXVI. _The Effects of the_ Opuntia, _or Prickly Pear, and of the_
Indigo _Plant, in colouring the Juices of living Animals. Communicated
by_ H. Baker, _F.R.S._
[Read June 23, 1757.]
June 23d, 1757.
MR. Baker received a letter yesterday from Dr. Alexander Garden, of
Charles Town in South Carolina, part of which he hopes he shall be
excused for laying before the Royal Society.
The Doctor writes thus:----“As you desired, I tried the effects of the
prickly pear in colouring the urine. A few days after your letter, I
went down to one of the islands, and gathered some of the fruit, and
gave four of the pears to a child of three years of age, and six pears
to one of five. The next morning I examined the urine of both, and it
appeared of a very lively red colour, as if tent-wine had been mixed
with clear water. The urine of the eldest was deeper coloured, and of
a darker look: the youngest (who always naturally made clear urine)
was of a more lively and beautiful red. Next day I gave six pears to a
Negroe wench, who gave suck, and strictly forbad her suckling her child
for six or eight hours; and then taking some of her milk in a tea-cup,
and setting it by for some hours, the cream had a reddish lustre, tho’
it was very faint.
I was led to this last experiment by an observation, which I made on
the milk of cows, who had fed in an indigo-field; the indigo had
not only tinged their urine blue, but the cream of the milk was of a
most beautiful blue colour, and had a radiated appearance from the
centre (Is it not hence probable, that the dye is the oily part of the
plant?). The milk underneath was clear and white as usual.”
Dr. Garden wrote, a year ago, that the prickly pear grows in great
abundance about Carolina; and also that the cochineal insects are found
upon it; but hitherto no attempts have been made to cure them as the
Spaniards do. In hope, that some rich dye may be produced from the
plant itself, Mr. Baker proposed some experiments to Dr. Garden, which
he intends to prosecute this summer.
XXXVII. _Account of an extraordinary Shower of black Dust, that fell in
the Island of_ Zetland _20th_ October 1755[194]. _In a Letter from Sir_
Andrew Mitchell, _of_ Westshore, _Bart. to_ John Pringle, _M.D. F.R.S._
[Read June 23, 1757.]
Pall-Mall, June 9th, 1757.
SIR,
IN compliance with your desire, I made particular inquiry, whether
at or about the time the earthquake happened at Lisbon the 1st of
November 1755. any uncommon phænomena were observed to appear in
the islands of Orkney or Zetland, as such had happened about that
time in other parts of Scotland. From Orkney I was informed, that
nothing particular had happened; only, that about the time mentioned
the tides were observed to be much higher than ordinary. I received
from Zetland a letter, dated 28th May 1756. from Mr. William Brown,
Master of the grammar-school at Scalloway in that country, a sensible
and observing man; wherein he writes verbatim as follows. “Blessed be
God, notwithstanding the great devastations, that have been made in
other parts of the world by earthquakes, we have been intirely free
from any disaster of that nature: nor has any thing extraordinary
happened in this country since you left it; only on Monday the 20th
October last, betwixt the hours of three and four in the afternoon,
the sky being very hazy, as it uses to be before a storm of thunder
and lightning, there fell a black dust over all the country, tho’ in
greater quantities in some places than in others. It was very much
like lampblack; but smelled strongly of sulphur. People in the fields
had their faces, hands, and linen, blackened by it. It was followed
by rain.----Some people assign the cause of it to some extraordinary
eruption of Hecla. But I shall trouble you no more about it, as no
doubt some of your friends have written to you of it some time ago.”----
In June 1756. I returned to Zetland; and, upon further inquiry, found
what Mr. Brown had written me was attested by Mr. Mitchell, parson
of the parish of Tengwall, and by several Gentlemen of credit and
reputation, who had seen and observed the same phænomenon in different
parts of the country at the time above-mentioned.
Mr. Brown having omitted to mention, how the wind did blow at the time
the black dust was observed, I made particular inquiry about that
circumstance, and found it was from the S. W. which does not seem to
favour the opinion, that the dust proceeded from an eruption of mount
Hecla, which lies about N. W. from Zetland; unless it may be supposed,
that a north wind happening just before had carried this dust to the
southward, and the south-west wind immediately following had brought
it back to the northward. But, in this case, would not this black dust
have been observed in Zetland at its first travelling to the southward?
Upon inquiry, I did not hear it was.
Thus far I have obeyed your commands, which I will always do with
pleasure; and if you think it worth while to lay this letter before the
Royal Society, I leave you at full liberty to do so, or not, as you
think proper: but what it contains may be relied on as truth. I am,
with great regard,
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
And. Mitchell.
_P.S._ I may add, that the distance from mount Hecla to Zetland is
between 500 and 600 miles.
XXXVIII. _A Description of some Thermometers for particular Uses. By
the Right Honourable the Lord_ Charles Cavendish, _V.P.R.S._
[Read June 30, 1757.]
THE thermometer (TAB. XI. _fig._ 1.) is designed for shewing the
greatest degree of heat, which happens in any place during the absence
of the observer. It consists of a cylinder of glass joined to a tube,
and differs from common thermometers only in having the top of the stem
drawn out into a capillary tube, which enters into a glass ball C,
joined on to the stem at the place where it begins to be contracted.
The cylinder, and part of the tube, are filled with mercury; the top of
which shews the common degrees of heat as usual. The upper part of the
tube above the mercury is filled with spirit of wine, and some of the
same liquor is left in the ball C, so as to fill it almost up to the
top of the capillary tube.
Now when the thermometer rises, the spirit of wine will be driven out
of the tube, and will fall into the ball C. When the thermometer sinks
again, as the spirit cannot return back from the ball, the top of
the tube will remain empty, and the length of the empty part will be
proportional to the fall of the thermometer. Therefore, by means of a
proper scale, the top of the spirit of wine will shew how many degrees
it has been higher than when observed; which being added to the present
height, will give the greatest degree of heat it has been at.
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XI. _p. 300_.
_J. Mynde sc._]
To fit this thermometer for a new observation, it is necessary to
fill the upper part of the tube with spirits; which may be done, by
inclining the instrument till the spirits in the ball C cover the end
of the capillary tube. For if the cylinder is then heated, by applying
the hand to it, or by the flame of a lamp held at some distance, till
the spirits rise to the top of the tube and run over into the ball
C, and is then suffered to cool in the same position, the tube will
remain full of spirits, and the thermometer will be fitted for a new
experiment.
The top of the capillary tube is made to stand pretty near to one side
of the ball, and also to the top of it, that a less inclination of the
instrument may be sufficient to make the spirit of wine in the ball
cover the end of the tube.
The ball C is joined on as high as possible, so as to hide no part of
the tube, except that, where the bore is contracted. By this means, the
top of the spirit of wine begins to appear before the thermometer has
sunk one degree.
It will be convenient to leave some mercury in the ball C, which may
be made to cover the end of the capillary tube, by inclining the
thermometer more than what is necessary to make the spirit of wine
cover it. By this means some mercury may be got back into the tube,
in case any of it should happen to be driven into the ball by the
thermometer’s being exposed to too great a heat.
The scale of degrees at top, which shews the descent of the thermometer
from the highest point it has arrived at, ought not, in strictness, to
be the same at all times of the year; for those degrees exceed the
common degrees of heat pointed out by the top of the mercury, as much
as the column of spirit of wine expands, and therefore are greatest
when that column is so; that is to say, when the greatest heat to which
the instrument has been exposed is least. A difference of 30 degrees
of Fahrenheit’s scale, in the greatest rise of the thermometer, would
require the scale to be altered one sixtieth part: and the error
arising from making use of the same scale will be about one sixth of a
degree, if the thermometer is observed when it has fallen ten degrees.
In the instrument here described, the bore of the tube is about 0.027
inches; and one inch of it contains two grains of mercury, and answers
to about ten degrees, the cylinder containing about 2280 grains. If a
much shorter tube was made use of, a considerable error might arise
from too great a quantity of spirits adhering to the sides of the
tube, in that part, which is filled with mercury; especially when the
thermometer rises fast. This makes it necessary to employ a cylinder of
a considerable bigness, if it is desired to have the scale of degrees
pretty large.
If the weight of the mercury is thought inconvenient, it may be avoided
by the construction described in fig. 2. where the bottom of the tube
is bent so as to point upwards, and is joined to a ball A, which
communicates with a cylinder placed above it. In all other respects it
is the same as the instrument before described.
It is filled with spirit of wine and mercury; the quantity of the
latter being sufficient to fill the whole tube and the ball A.
No part of the spirit, with which the cylinder is filled, can get into
the tube, as long as the instrument is kept in an erect position, or
even if it is carefully laid down flat on a table. For tho’ in this
last case some of the spirits may get into the ball A, it will rise to
that part of the ball, which is then uppermost, and will not touch the
orifice of the tube _n_; which was the reason for adding this ball,
which would be unnecessary, if the instrument was kept constantly
erect, or nearly so. If the spirit should come to touch the orifice of
the tube _n_, it would work up between the mercury and the glass; which
would put the instrument out of order.
The thermometer fig. 3. is designed for shewing the greatest cold,
which happens in any place during the time the instrument is left
in it. The tube is bent into the shape of a syphon of unequal legs
standing parallel to one another, the bend being at the bottom. The
top of the shorter leg is bent to a right angle, and immediately opens
into a ball A, which, by means of a short bent tube on the opposite
side, communicates with a cylinder standing parallel to the legs of the
syphon, and pointing downwards. This cylinder contains the greatest
part of the fluid; and is added only to make the thermometer more
sensible than it would be, if the ball A was made of a sufficient
bigness to contain the proper quantity of fluid. This instrument is
filled with spirit of wine, with the addition of as much mercury as is
sufficient to fill both legs of the syphon, and about a fourth or fifth
part of the ball A.
The common degrees of heat are shown by the top of the mercury in the
longest leg, or by the top of the spirit, in case any of it is left
above the mercury.
When the mercury in the longest leg sinks by cold, that in the shorter
leg will rise, and will run over into the ball A; from whence it cannot
return back when the thermometer rises again, as the surface of the
mercury in the ball is below the orifice of the tube _n_. Therefore the
upper part of the shorter leg will be filled with a column of spirits
of a length proportional to the increase of heat; the bottom of which,
by means of a proper scale, will show how much the thermometer has been
lower than it then is; which being subtracted from the present height,
will give the lowest point that it has been at.
If no further contrivance was used, the mercury would fall into the
ball A in large drops; which would make the instrument less accurate.
For the thermometer’s beginning to rise immediately after a drop is
fallen, or just as it is going to fall (in which case it will return
back into the tube), will make a difference of such part of a degree
nearly as that drop answers to. To prevent this inconvenience, the top
of the shorter leg, close to the ball, is contracted, by being held
in the flame of a lamp; and the passage is further streightened by a
solid thread of glass placed within the tube, and extending from the
bottom of the shorter leg to the part near the ball A, where it is most
contracted. By this means, as soon as any small portion of mercury is
got beyond the end of the thread of glass, it breaks off, and falls
into the ball in very small drops. This thread of glass is fastened
by the heat given to the tube in making the bend next to the ball. In
order to fill the shorter leg with mercury, to fit the instrument for
a new experiment, it must be inclined till the mercury in the ball
covers the orifice of the tube _n_. The cylinder being then heated,
the mercury will be forced into the shorter leg, and will run down
the thread of glass in drops, which will soon unite. By this means,
such a quantity of mercury must be got into the shorter leg, as, upon
the cooling of the instrument, will be sufficient to drive all the
spirit of wine into the ball with a less degree of cold than what the
thermometer is likely to be exposed to.
The ball A must always have some mercury in it, but never enough to
fill it up to the orifice of the tube _n_. It must therefore be made of
such a size, as to contain all the mercury, which can come into it from
the tube without being too full. If it should happen to be made too
small, so as to be too full in cold weather, any part of the mercury
may easily be driven into the cylinder, and got back again into the
ball when wanted in warmer weather.
It will be better to leave a little of the spirit above the mercury
in the longest leg; in which case the top of the spirit will shew
the common degrees of heat. For the filling the tube, so as to leave
none, is attended with some trouble; and more of it will be apt to get
up there, if the instrument should happen to be held in an improper
situation, or if it be kept in too warm a place without filling the
shorter leg with mercury by the method above described. If too great
a quantity should get up, tho’ it would not affect the scale for
the common degrees of heat, it would however cause some error in the
degrees on the shorter leg; inasmuch as the expansion of that portion
of spirits, which has got up into the longer leg, exceeds the expansion
of the mercury, which must supply its place. It may be got back at
pleasure, by exposing the thermometer to such a degree of cold as will
make the spirit get beyond the bend of the syphon; for then it will run
up along the thread of glass in the shorter leg till it gets above the
mercury there. For this purpose the point of 0 degrees of Fahrenheit’s
scale should be near the bend; by which means, any part of the spirit
of wine may be got beyond it by an artificial cold; and there will be
no danger of the whole getting beyond it by any natural cold; in which
case the air would get up into the ball.
The scale of degrees on the shorter leg will, in different seasons, be
liable to an error of the same kind as that, which was explained in the
first-mentioned thermometer; but in this it will be less considerable,
as the space between the two scales is filled with mercury, whose
expansion is about six times less than that of spirit of wine.
In the thermometer, which I have, the bore of the tube is about 0.054
inches; and one inch of it contains eight grains of mercury, and
answers to seven degrees of Fahrenheit’s scale. The drops of mercury,
which fall into the ball A, answer to about one eighth of a degree.
If instruments of the nature of those above described, were to be used
for finding the temper of the sea at great depths, some alteration
would be necessary in the construction of them, principally upon
account of the great pressure of the water; the ill effect of which
can, I believe, be prevented no other way, than by leaving the tube
open. For if the thermometer was made strong enough to resist the
pressure without breaking, yet it would be impossible to be sure, that
the figure of the glass would not thereby be altered, which should make
the experiment uncertain.
The instrument for finding the greatest heat might be made just like
that of fig. 1. only leaving the top open. It is to be filled with
mercury only, as is also the lower part of the ball at top, but not
near so high as the end of the capillary tube. The upper part of that
ball, being left open, will in a great measure be filled with the
sea-water, which will be forced into it by the pressure.
If this instrument (the tube being quite full of mercury) is plunged
into any part of the sea, where the heat is greater than that of the
air above, part of the mercury will be driven out of the tube; and,
upon bringing it into a colder place, the sea-water or air in the ball
will enter into the tube, and will fill the space left by the mercury.
As this thermometer does not show the common degrees of heat, it must
be placed in a vessel of water with another thermometer, and the scale
of degrees at top will shew how much the heat it has been exposed to is
greater than that of the water in the vessel.
The sea-water getting into the glass will corrode the mercury, and
thereby foul the glass; which will make the experiment less exact:
and therefore it would be much more convenient, if the sea-water could
intirely be kept out; which probably may be done by tying a bladder
full of air to the neck of the ball C, which will contract by the
pressure of the water, without letting any of it get in.
If this can be done, the instrument may be filled with mercury and
spirits, just like that at fig. 1. But it would be more convenient to
fill it with mercury only: in which case it may be made with as small
a tube and ball as common mercurial thermometers: or it may be filled
with spirits only. The instrument will thereby become much less bulky;
which will compensate the want of the common scale of heat.
It is better to put but little mercury into the ball at top, for fear
of its getting into the capillary tube by the motion of the instrument.
The thermometer for finding the greatest cold, if applied to this
purpose, must also be left open at top. There is another inconvenience
to be avoided; which is, that the mercury in the ball A, by the tossing
of the instrument, might sometimes get into the shorter leg of the
syphon; which would spoil the experiment. To prevent such an accident,
the most convenient construction, which occurs to me, is that of fig.
4. which differs from fig. 3. in having the ball A omitted; so that
the mercury running out of the shorter leg will fall to the bottom of
the cylinder, and will not be so liable to get back into the tube by
motion. The cylinder is made to stand not quite parallel to the legs
of the syphon, that the mercury contained therein may more easily be
brought to touch the end of the tube, in order to fit the instrument
for a new experiment.
If, by means of a bladder, the sea-water can be kept out of the glass,
this instrument may be made to shew the common degrees of heat; but
even then, in order to render it less bulky, it may be better to supply
the want of them as in the last instrument. The longer leg of the
syphon may in that case be made as short as you please; only making the
ball B big enough to receive all the mercury, which may be driven into
it by heat.
If thermometers of this kind were to be sent up into the air by means
of a kite, they might be made like those proposed for the sea; but it
would not be necessary to leave them open.
As it would be desirable to make them as small as possible, they
should be made so as not to shew the common degrees of heat: and it
would also, on that account, be convenient to omit the thread of glass
placed within the shorter leg of the syphon in fig. 3. and 4. This
thread of glass is placed there in order to make the mercury fall into
the ball A. fig. 3. or cylinder C. fig. 4. in smaller drops, and also
to facilitate the filling the shorter leg with mercury. The latter
purpose may be answered by having a ball blown towards the bottom of
the shorter leg, as marked in fig. 4. at M: for as soon as the mercury
driven out of the cylinder by heat gets to that ball, it will pass
by the spirit of wine. The other purpose may probably be answered by
having the tube contracted as much as possible at _n_.
In the foregoing instruments the tubes made use of were of a large
bore, as most of the errors in them would increase by making
use of smaller ones. Possibly less ones might be used without
much inconvenience. The chief advantage will be, the making these
thermometers more sensible of the changes of heat, than when large
cylinders are used. This will be of service when the greatest degree of
heat or cold continues but a short time.
It is better to use plain spirit of wine, than what is tinged, which
seems more apt to cause a foulness in the tube, and thereby makes the
surface of the mercury less well defined. I am induced to believe so,
from observing, that the portion of spirits above the mercury in the
tube fig. 3. which at first was strongly tinged with cochineal, in
some months became perfectly colourless, the tinging particles being
deposited in different parts of the tube, and causing a foulness there.
The colour of the spirits in the cylinder does not appear to be altered.
The dark-shaded part in the several figures represents mercury, the
dotted part spirit of wine.
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XII. _p. 311_.
_J. Mynde sc._]
XXXIX. _Observationes Anatomico-Medicæ, de Monstro bicorporeo Virgineo
A. 1701. die 26 Oct. in_ Pannonia, _infra_ Comaromium, _in Possessione_
Szony, _quondam Quiritum_ Bregetione, _in lucem edito, atque A. 1723.
die_ 23 Febr. Posonii _in Cœnobio Monialium_ S. Ursulæ _morte functo
ibidemque sepulto. Authore_ Justo Johanne Torkos, _M.D. Soc. Regalis
Socio._
[_See_ TAB. XII.]
[Read May 23. 1751.]
I. PARTUS hic bicorporeus singulare exemplum exhibet admirandarum
virium imaginationis maternæ in fœtum utero contentum. Mater enim hujus
bicorporis, primis graviditatis suæ mensibus vel potius hebdomadis,
attentius contemplabatur canes coëuntes, arctius cohærentes, et
capitibus erga se invicem quodammodo conversos, eosque sibi crebrius
præfigurabat.
II. In partu, primum prodiit umbilicotenus Helenæ corpus; post tres
demum horas editi sunt ejus pedes, cum adnexo corpore altero Judithæ.
Helenæ corporis statura erat altior et rectior, Judithæ brevior et
obliquior; et quamvis infra lumbos, a tergo, in unum corpus concretæ
fuissent, attamen vultu et corporibus, semilateraliter, erga se
fuerant conversæ, ut commode sedere, lentoque gradu procedere et
recedere potuerint. Unus communi ipsis erat alvi exitus, intra duas
nates, seu Helenæ dextrum et Judithæ sinistrum femur, situatus. Unam
quoque habebant vulvam, intra quatuor pedes reconitam, ut dum erectis
starent corporibus, ne vestigium ejus conspicuum esset. Quoad duos
istos excretionum meatus, observatum est, quod, una excretionem alvi
moliente, altera quoque nisum egerendi senserit; in reddenda vero
urina, quælibet, diverso tempore, stimulos habuerit: quamobrem altera
ad urinæ missionem solicitata, altera subinde recessum negavit. Unde in
juventute, utut alias semper semet tenerrime amarent et amplexarentur,
sæpius altercationes inter ipsas exortæ, et alterutra aliam vel dorso
injectam abripuit, vel colluctando eo, quo vellet, protraxit.
III. Anno ætatis sexto, Judithæ paralysis totius partis sinistræ;
obtigit ex qua affectione, utut convaluisset, per totam vitam suam
debilior, tardior, et stupidior perstitit; e contra Helena semper
agilior, docilior, et formosior suit.
IV. Prout diversa erant corpora, ita functionum vitalium, animalium,
et naturalium, magna in utroque corpore, tam in sano quam ægroto
statu, observata est differentia. Et quamvis variolas et morbillos
uno eodemque tempore habuissent, reliqui tamen morbi eis non erant
communes. Cum Judith sæpius convelleretur, Helena nec alterata nec
debilitata fuit. Helena erat pleuritica. Judith benigniore febre
laboravit: alterâ tussi, catarrho, colicâ afflictâ, altera sana
exstitit. Hinc etiam quælibet, pro suo diverso statu, diversis
medicamentis tractabatur: phlebotomia autem semper in saniore et
vegetiore celebrabatur.
V. Anno ætatis decimo sexto, menstrua comparuerunt, quæ deinde per
totam vitam, non tamen æquali tempore, modo, et quantitate successere.
Subinde alterutra majores hinc sensit molestias; Judith vero crebrius
convellebatur, variisque hystericis et pectoris affectionibus obnoxia
fuit.
VI. Anno ætatis vicesimo secundo, seu A. C. 1723. die 8 Febr. Judith
fortiter convulsa est, postea comatosa, usque ad mortem, quæ die
23 Febr. mane contigit, perstitit. Intra hos dies Helena febricula
laboravit, eique accesserunt crebriores lipothymiæ, quibus tandem ita
debilitata est, ut integra quamvis mente et loquela, subito, tribusque
horæ minutis prius quam Judith, in agonem inciderit: postea vero ambæ,
post brevem agonem, uno ferme momento expiraverint.
VII. Corporibus post mortem dissectis, reperta sunt in quolibet
corpore viscera singula: In Helena omnia sana; in Judithæ thorace
vero cor nimis magnum, fortissimo pericardio velatum, et pulmonum
dexter lobus putridus: Arteria aorta et vena cava ex utroque corde
descendentes, antequam arteriæ et venæ iliacæ ex iisdem emergerent,
inflexæ coadunabantur, et unam arteriam aortam, unamque venam cavam,
e corde uno ad aliud procedentes seu reflexas, præsentarunt. In
abdomine utrinque viscera omnia sana et integra. Quodlibet corpus suum
habuit hepar, splenem, pancreas, renes, vesicam, uterum cum ovariis,
tubis Fallopianis, et portione vaginæ, quæ utrinque concurrentes unam
communem vaginam efformarunt. Partes genitalium externorum, præter
commune orificium vaginæ, cuilibet erant propriæ, velut clitoris,
nymphæ, orificium urethræ; alæ seu labia utrinque ad perinæum
concurrentia fossulam navicularem densiorem constituerant. Ventriculus
cum intestinis, in utrâque, naturaliter erant situata; intestina recta
autem utrinque ad os sacrum reflexa et coalita, unum satis amplum et
communem canalem constituerunt: os sacrum ad secundam divisionem
concretum erat, et unum corpus efformando, in uno utrique ossi sacro
communi, osse coccygis, terminabatur.
Ex prærecensitis, sicut causa diversitaris actionum et functionum
patet, ita etiam ex arteriarum aortarum, et venarum cavarum,
intestinorum quoque rectorum et vaginarum uteri, compagine,
coadunatione et harmonia, apparet ratio conformitatis et disparitatis
morborum, synthanasiæ, communis nisus egerendæ alvi, possibilis
imprægnationis alterutrius, vel fors utriusque virginis, uno eodemque
coitu.
Hæc omnia conquisivi et retexui, partim e relationibus fide dignis
autoptarum; partim ex ephemeridibus B. Caroli Raygeri, soceri mei,
qui, dum viveret, medicum cœnobii dicti ordinarium agebat; partim ex
libro cœnobiali, cui B. Vir formulas medicamentorum inscripserat. Dab.
Posonii die 3 Julii 1757.
Justus Joannes Torkos,
Eques Pannonius, Medic. Doct. et
Liberæ Regiæ Civitatis Posoniensis
Physicus ordinarius.
The interval between the reading of this paper before the Royal Society
and the present publication, was occasioned by the long indisposition,
and afterwards death, of their late President Martin Folkes, Esq; who
having taken it to his house, with a view of collecting and adding to
it some further particulars, it could not be found after his decease.
But Dr. Torkos, the writer, being again applied to, immediately
transmitted the copy of it printed above: and, in order to supply
in some measure the want of what Mr. Folkes’s extensive reading and
industry might have furnished the public with, in relation to so very
remarkable a fact, the following accounts, printed and manuscript, are
subjoined as a supplement to the preceding article.
_Extract of a Letter of_ William Burnet, _Esq; F.R.S. eldest Son of
Dr._ Gilbert Burnet, _Lord Bishop of_ Salisbury, _to Dr. (afterwards
Sir)_ Hans Sloane, _dated at_ Leyden, May 9. 1708. _N. S._[195]
“+SIR+,
I Send you inclosed the print of a wonderful union of two twin sisters,
who are at this time to be seen at the Hague. I saw them, and observed
all, that I could think tended to explain the appearance. They are
Hungarians, as the lines under the print will shew you. There is there
an exact enough description of their condition; only I may add, that
in fig. 1. the urinal passage is between the two foremost thighs, as
they are in the print. The same is true of the anus in the 2d figure,
in such manner, that the situation of these parts is the same to
outward appearance as naturally, with this difference, that they are
between two different bodies here, whereas in the course of nature
they are between the two parts of the same body. It seems probable,
that their parts are distinct; but that the most remote labia of
each are outwardly visible, and the two contiguous ones are within.
There seems to be no cheat in the thing; and the skin, where they are
joined, is perfectly smooth, without any scar. They are now about six
years old. They speak French and High German. They are very full of
action, and talk one more than the other. When one stoops to take up
any thing, she carries the other quite from the ground; and that one of
them often does, being stronger as well as more lively than the other.
They have not their feeling common any where but in the place of their
conjunction. This is all I can say about it. If you think it worth
while, you will do me an honour in giving the print, and the substance
of this account, to the Society; to which, tho’ an unworthy member, I
would be proud to be capable of any service.”
This letter was read to the Royal Society on the 12th of May 1708[196];
and the print mentioned in it produced; which, being now become
extremely difficult to be met with, is thought proper to be engraved
again, and inserted here. _See_ TAB. XIII.
Soon after the date of Mr. Burnet’s letter the twin sisters were
brought to England, and publicly shewn in London, as appears from the
following MS. note in a copy of the print bound up by the writer with
Fortunius Licetus _de Monstris_[197], edit. Amstelod. 1665. 4to. in the
possession of Thomas Wilbraham, M.D. F.R.S. “_Londini 14 Junii 1708.
has vidi gemellas (plus annis sex natas) quarum forma et vivacitas
elegantior et vegetior quam pictura et descriptio._”
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIII. _p. 316_.
_Corpora Binarum sic concrevere Sororum,
Non nisi Divina dissocianda manu.
SZÖNY Patria est, vicus COMORÆ co terminus Arci,
Qvæ nunquam Lunæ paruit Imperio.
Amplexa est ulnis HELENAM Lucina priorem,
Horis deinde tribus JUDITHA fuit._
_Exitus Urinæ patet unicus, unicus alvo,
Observant numerum cætera membra suum.
Misit ad Ignotos tenuis Fortuna Parentum,
Neu pereat tantæ Fama stupenda rei.
InterIora Latent, neqVeVnt abstrVsa VIDerI:
eXIgVo totVM CorpVs In ære patet._
_J. Mynde sc._]
Another account of them by an eye-witness in London is in a manuscript
volume among those of Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. in the British Museum,
intituled, _A short History of human Prodigies and monstrous Births, of
Dwarfs, Sleepers, Giants, strong Men, Hermaphrodites, numerous Births,
and extreme old Age, &c._ The name of the writer was James Paris du
Plessis. In p. 39. under the Title _Two Sisters conjoined_, he gives a
drawing of them, and the following description: “These two monstrous
girls were born at Szony in Hungary in the year 1701. They were born
conjoined together at the small of the back. I asked the father and
mother, if they could not be separated one from the other? but they
answered, No; because the urinary and fœcal vessels and passages were
so united, as to have but one issue for the urine, and another for
the excrements, betwixt both. They were brisk, merry, and well-bred:
they could read, write, and sing very prettily: they could speak three
different languages, as Hungarian or High Dutch, Low Dutch, and French,
and were learning English. They were very handsome, very well shaped in
all parts, and beautiful faces. Helen was born three hours before her
sister Judith. When one stooped, she lifted the other from the ground,
and carried the other upon her back; neither could they walk side by
side. They loved one another very tenderly. Their clothes were fine and
neat. They had two bodies, four sleeves; and one petticoat served to
the bodies, and their shifts the same. When one went forward, the other
was forced to go backward.”
A later and more particular account is contained in p. 41, _& seqq._ of
a book very seldom met with in this country, being printed at Vienna in
1729. intituled, _Gerardi Cornelii Drieschii Historia magnæ Legationis
Cæsareæ, quam Caroli VI. auspiciis suscepit Damianus Hugo Virmondtius_,
&c. The following extract, tho’ long, will not probably be thought
unentertaining.
“Sunt in comitatu Commaroniensi in terris illustrissimi Zichii
(pagus Hungaris Szony dicitur) à parentibus colonis, quibus sua vita
constat, dum hæc scribo, anno 1701. vii calendas Novembreis procreatæ
in lucem duæ filiæ gemellæ, posticâ parte, quâ spina dorsi definit,
concretæ, sic ut altera alteram sequi, quo se cunque vertat, cogatur:
cætera haud deformes aspectu, nisi concretio illa corporum prodigium
efficeret. Binæ singulis manus, totidem pedes, et capita, necnon
corpora: suus membris omnibus usus; rationis multò etiam, quod mirere,
certior; ut, si sedentes solum videris, neque sciveris, hic monstri
notare nihil valeas. Majori natu, quæ lucem citius aspexit tribus
horis, Helenæ, minori Judithæ nomen est. Hæc ante annos circiter tres
stupore apoplectico tacta linguæ modicum ex eo ac bonæ mentis officium
impeditum habuit, simplicitatem quandam ingenii modo ut redoleat.
Illa animo semper integro atque spiritu prædita eodem, pudicâ facie,
non inconcinnis motibus, intuentium in se oculos ad misericordiam
commovet, utpote quæ rationis planè compos, sororis tenerrimè amans,
nec status ignara sui, duplicem miseriam tolerat, suam et istius.
Ductæ sunt olim infantes per varias regiones ac provincias, Germaniam,
Angliam, Galliam, Italiam, Poloniam, Bataviam, Austriam, Moraviam,
Hungariam, à medico Hungarico nomine Csuszio, qui easdem certâ pecuniâ
ad tempus sibi a parentibus concreditas et elocatas, bonâ eorundem
veniâ, paterno à solo âbduxit; unde trium gentium linguis, Germanicâ,
Gallicâ, Hungaricâ, hodiedum etiam loquuntur; alias desuetudine usuque
interrupto, ætate præsertim nondum satis confirmatâ, omnino dedidicere.
Dux Augustus Saxo Cizius inter purpuratos LXXII patres à constantia
religionis, timore erga Deum et caritate in proximum notissimus,
archiepiscopus Strigoniensis, veritus, ne frequentes hæ perignationes
puellarum adhuc infantium innocentiæ officerent, ac mores denique
illarum, ut fieri non raro assolet, planè depavarent, pacto
persolutoque pretio à medico redemit, et revocatas domum ad suos
virginibus à divâ Ursulâ nuncupatis intra Posonium deinceps educandas
commisit, necessariis ad hoc sumptibus benignè subministratis. Ingressæ
non diu puerilem ætatem suerant, nonusque illis annus agi cœptus
currebat, quando harum in disciplinam virginum tradebantur. Hic legere
primum ac scribere, ea, quæ ad fidem necessaria sunt, mente atque animo
comprehendere; operas manuum exercere varias, acu præcipuè phrygionicâ
pingere, denticulatas affabre fimbrias conficere, et cætera quæ sunt
ejusdem generis, edoctæ fuerunt. Vidi ego ex illarum operibus aliqua,
quæ magistras hâc in arte fecisse non pudeat. Receptæ autem sunt sacrum
hoc in collegium anno secul ix. die XII. kalendas Aprilis, ibi XI
mansionis, vitæ XIX jam planè complerunt. Istuc divarum contubernium,
quod adhuc constanter incolunt, nunquam postea deseruere. Addita illis
e prudentioribus virago, quæ indefinentur adsit, quo velint, ducat,
actonibus invigilet, de quibus respondere, ad aliosque referre, si
necessum fuerit, aliquando possit. Ex hâc scire quæ cupiebam, remotis
arbitris, nullo negotio percepi. Crediderat namque, quod res quoque
erat, non curiositatis gratiâ, sed officii, ac boni publici causâ
ista à me rogari: quare alios omnes secedere jussi, solus cum eadem
remanens, ut quæ, junioribus præsertim aliquot præsentibus, accuratius
explicare verecundia illam antea prohibuerat, majori mecum libertate
communicaret. Partes, quas vel nominare pudor honestasque vetuit, per
quas potus ciborumque fæces et reliqua corporis excrementa (sit verbo
venia) ejicimus, non illis his, quibus nobis, constitutæ locis. Illis
quidem, ubi nos eas habemus, occlusa sunt omnia; at infernè, quâ parte
concretio illa corporum incipit, easdem obtinent utrique communes.
Neque tamen cum necessitas alterutram premit ad exonerandum, exempli
gratiâ, ventrem, altera se quoque sentit tam inutili pondere gravatam,
at satisfaciendum necessario naturæ sit: sed jam huic, jam isti istud
imbecillitatis humanæ incommodum perferendum est, sitque etiam, ut
cum alvum purgat altera, alteri meatus sit urinarius aperiendus.
Muliebria, quæ statis fœminas vicibus incommodant, non uno ambabus
tempore veniunt. Octidui quandoque intervallo ac longiori disjuncta
sunt. Dum dormit hæc, sæpe vigilat illa, et in alterius labore altera
nonnunquam quiescit. Visa una potare est, aut cibo corpus reficere,
cum aliud alii agebatur. Sedent, stant, ambulant, jacent semper unà,
nec sine incommodo. Non permittit conglutinatio ista corporum, hæ uti
actiones separentur. Si colloquuntur, obtortis faciem collis obvertunt.
Suavia dant sibi, cum amant, et pugnis impetunt, cum furunt. Donec suæ
utrique vires adhuc constabant, si sorte exortæ inter illas aliquando
discordiæ essent, hæc, quæ se læsam magis credebat aut fortem, sublatam
in humeros aliam alio asportabat. Veruntamen ingenio miti magis ac
placido sunt quam incenso aut iracundo, et in communibus malis communem
fidem, commune robur adhibent, immissam sibi à Deo miseriam fortitèr
sustinentes. Ante triennium in gravi secundò genitæ morbo, de quo
nonnulla superiùs facta est mentio est, prior nata sacris omnibus
munita ad mortem quoque feliciter obeundam disposita ab sacerdote fuit,
quia medicorum pars potior credit aliâ extinctâ aliam haud posse longùm
amplius superesse. Id quod probare ex hoc etiam laborant, quod quoties
male uni sit, quamvis altera non eadem continuo ægrotatione teneatur,
angustias tamen animi certas, hebetationem sensuum, et commotionem
quandam viscerum in seipsa experiatur. Equidem dubitandum minimè reor,
quin monstrosa hæc bina corpora duplici mente ac spiritu regantur.
Nam sive cor faciamus, sive cerebrum statuamus animi sedem, ex
utrolibet idem nullo negotio evincitur. Adde tot actiones multiplices,
cogitationes rerum diversas, sensa animi varia, quæ, ut aliud nihil
sit, isthuc pariter nos docent. Unum præcipue hic admirandum venit,
quod commemorare superius memoria excidit; post prodigiosum videlicet
hunc difficilemque partum natos esse matri alios liberos, ex eodem
patre procreatos, sanos et valentes, corpore, specie ac forma integros,
qui monstri nihil admixtum habeant.”
XL. _Observations on the Origin and Use of the Lymphatic Vessels of
Animals: being an Extract from the_ Gulstonian _Lectures, read in the
Theatre of the College of Physicians of_ London, _in_ June 1755. _By_
Mark Akenside, _M.D. Fellow of the College of Physicians, and of the
Royal Society_.
[Read Nov. 30, 1757.]
IT is proved, by a multitude of experiments, that the lymphatics
communicate with the blood-vessels. They may be distended by blowing
air, or by injecting water or mercury, into an artery: and the lymph,
which they carry, is frequently, in a morbid state, found tinged with
a mixture of the red globules or crassamentum of the blood. Upon this
foundation two different theories have been raised, concerning the
connection of the lymphatics with the arteries.
Of these, we shall first consider that of the late famous professor
Boerhaave. He observed, that every artery of the body is greater, in
its diameter, than any of its branches: and this observation being
found true, as far as our eye and the microscope can inform us, he
inferred, by analogy, that it held good even thro’ the most minute
subdivisions of the arterial system. But, says he, proportionable to
the diameter of the canal is the size of the particles moving thro’
it: therefore, if an ultimate capillary artery, admitting only one red
globule at once to pass thro’ it, send off lateral branches, these
branches will be capable of receiving such particles only as are
smaller than a red globule. But the particles next in magnitude below
the red globules are the yellow serous ones; and the lateral vessel,
thus receiving them, is a serous artery, and the trunk of a second
order of vessels. In like manner, this trunk, being continued on thro’
many lessening branches, will at last grow so minute, as to admit only
one serous globule: its lateral branches, therefore, will receive only
such particles as are smaller than the serous ones: but these are the
particles of the lymph; and this lateral branch is a lymphatic artery,
and the trunk of a third order of vessels. Thus, in the red arteries
are contained all the circulated fluids of the body; in the serous
arteries, all except the red blood; in the lymphatics, all except
the red blood and serum: and this subordination is, according to the
same laws, continued down thro’ fluids more subtile than the lymph,
to the smallest vessel, which is propagated from the aorta. Such was
Boerhaave’s doctrine concerning the vascular system of animal bodies;
like many of his other notions, ingenious, plausible, and recommending
itself, at first sight, by an appearance of geometrical and mechanical
accuracy: but founded upon insufficient data, and by no means to be
reconciled to appearances.
For, in the first place, should we admit his hypothesis, it is certain,
that the conical or converging form of the aorta, and the change of
direction in its branches, must, in the distant blood-vessels, occasion
a great resistance to the moving blood, and a great diminution of its
velocity. Suppose that this resistance be, in any capillary red artery,
to the resistance in the trunk of the aorta, as any larger assignable
number is to unit: the resistance, then, in a capillary serous artery
will, to that in the aorta, be as the square of that number is to
unit; in the capillary lymphatic, as the cube; and so in progression:
that is, the velocity of the fluids, in the remoter series of vessels,
will be, physically, nothing. But we know, on the contrary, that some
very remote series of vessels have their contents moved with a very
considerable velocity; particularly the vessels of the insensible
perspiration: and in anatomical injections, the liquor thrown into an
artery scarce returns more easily or speedily by the corresponding
vein, than by the most subtile excretory ducts. Moreover, there are
an infinite number of observations of morbid cases, in which the red
blood itself has been evacuated thro’ some of the most remote series
of vessels, merely from an occasional temporary obstruction in one
part, or a præternatural laxity in another; and without any lasting
detriment to the structure and subordination of the vessels; which yet,
upon this hypothesis, must have been utterly destroyed before such an
irregularity could have happened.
The other theory concerning the origin of the lymphatics has been
maintained by some very eminent physiologists later than Boerhaave;
and supposes, that these vessels receive their lymph from the
blood-vessels, or from the excretories of the larger glands, by the
intermediation of only one small vessel, which these authors term a
lymphatic artery, invisible in its natural state, nor yet rendered
subject to the senses by experiments. But to this it may be answered,
that the lymphatics are traced into many parts of the body, and lost
there; and therefore most probably have their origin there, where no
large gland nor blood-vessel is to be found in their neighbourhood:
that it contradicts the whole analogy of nature, to suppose the motion
of an animal fluid more discernible in the veins than in the arteries:
and, finally, that it seems rather an instance of want of thought, and
of being imposed upon by words, to call the lymphatic vessels veins,
because they are furnished with valves; and then, because they are
called veins, to take for granted, that of course they must be the
continuation of arteries.
In attempting to investigate matters too subtile for the cognizance
of our senses, the only method, in which we can reasonably proceed,
is by inferring from what we know in subjects of the same nature: and
our conclusion thus inferred, concerning the subject sought, will
be firmer and more unquestionable, in proportion as it resembles
the subject known. But if the subjects be really of the same kind;
if no difference can be shewn between them, in any respect material
to the inquiry, in which we are engaged; in this case our inference
from analogy becomes the very next thing to a physical certainty: and
this I apprehend to be true in relation to the problem before us,
concerning the origin of the lymphatic vessels. Tho’ in general we
cannot, by experiments, arrive at the extremities of those tubes, nor
satisfy ourselves, by inspection, in what manner they receive their
fluid; yet in a very considerable number of them we can do both. There
is a certain part of the human body very abundantly provided with
lymphatics; in which part we can actually force injections thro’ those
vessels into a cavity, where their extremities open: and from this
cavity, on the other hand, we can at pleasure introduce a coloured
liquor into their extremities, and trace it from smaller into wider
canals; from capillary tubes, without valves, into large lymphatic
trunks copiously furnished with them. We know likewise, that into
this cavity are continually exhaling an infinite number of watery and
mucous vessels, both arterial tubes and excretory ducts: that these
keep it moist with a perpetual vapour, which the extremities of those
lymphatics are, in the mean time, perpetually imbibing. Does it not
seem strange, while these particulars are known and acknowledged by
all the world, that the great authors of anatomy and physiology should
never have reasoned from them; but should run into complex and obscure
suppositions, in order to explain a process, which they may at any time
examine with their own eyes? But perhaps this inadvertency may be
accounted for, if we recollect, that at the time when these vessels,
and the structure of this part, were discovered, the lymph, and every
thing belonging to it, was utterly unknown; and that the vessels in
question were first seen and considered as performing another and more
remarkable office: which circumstance, it should seem, has prevented
succeeding authors from being duly attentive to them in the capacity
of lymphatics. However this be, it is certain, that the lymphatics of
the mesentery, commonly called the lacteals, differ from those of the
other parts in no one particular, save that occasionally they carry
chyle instead of lymph; or rather carry lymph mixed, at stated times
(that is, for two or three hours after the creature has taken food)
with an emulsion of vegetable and animal substances, and coloured white
by that mixture. At other times, (that is, during sixteen of eighteen
hours out of the twenty-four) they contain nothing but lymph; and are,
in every respect, mere lymphatic vessels, not to be distinguished from
those in any other part of the body. Their structure is the same; the
membrane of which they are formed, their valves, the lymph which they
contain, the glands thro’ which they pass, their direction from smaller
tubes to larger, and from these to the blood, differ in nothing from
what we observe of the other lymphatics. Their lymph, in the mean
time, is without doubt or controversy supplied from the cavity of the
intestines; being the watery moisture continually exhaled there for
the purposes of digestion, and for the preservation of the alimentary
canal, and as continually taken up by the roots or extremities of
these vessels, in order to be carried back to the blood, after it has
performed its office in the bowels. Let it also be remembered, that
these vessels, in other places of the body, are generally, when we
trace them, lost in muscular, tendinous, or membranous parts: and then,
I should presume, it may fairly, and with a good degree of evidence,
be concluded, that the lymphatics of the body, in general, have their
origin among the little cavities of the cellular substance of the
muscles, among the mucous folliculi of the tendons, or the membranous
receptacles and ducts of the larger glands: that their extremities or
roots do, from these cavities, imbibe the moisture exhaled there from
the ultimate arterial tubes, just as the lacteals (the lymphatics of
the mesentery) do on the concave surface of the intestines: and that
the minute imbibing vessels, by gradually opening one into another,
form at length a lymphatic trunk, furnished with valves to prevent the
return of its fluid, and tending uniformly, from the extremities and
from the viscera, to reconvey to the blood that lymph, or that fine
steam, with which they are kept in perpetual moisture; a circumstance
indispensibly necessary to life and motion: while, at the same time,
the continual re-absorption of that moisture by the lymphatics is no
less necessary, in order to preserve the blood properly fluid, and
to prevent the putrefaction, which would inevitably follow, if this
animal vapour were suffered to stagnate in the cavities where it is
discharged.
XLI. _A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of_ Macclesfield,
_President, the_ Council, _and_ Fellows, _of the_ Royal Society,
_concerning the Variation of the Magnetic Needle; with a Sett of
Tables annexed, which exhibit the Result of upwards of Fifty Thousand
Observations, in Six periodic Reviews, from the year 1700 to the year
1756, both inclusive; and are adapted to every Five Degrees of Latitude
and Longitude in the more frequented Oceans. By_ William Mountaine
_and_ James Dodson, _Fellows of the Royal Society_.
[Read Nov. 10, 1757.]
Dated London, Nov. 9th. 1757.