Note e — BOOK V.

Hippocrates Lib. de Alimentis, takes notice of the Sagacity of Nature, in finding out Methods and Passages for the discharging Things offensive to the Body, of which the late learned and ingenious Bishop of Clogher, in Ireland, (Boyle,) gave this remarkable Instance, to my very curious and ingenious Neighbour and Friend, D’Acre Barret, Esq; viz. That in the Plague Year, a Gentleman at the University, had a large Plague Sore gather’d under his Arm, which, when they expected it would have broken, discharg’d it self by a more than ordinary large and fœtid Stool; the Sore having no other Vent for it, and immediately becoming sound and well thereon.

Like to which, is the Story of Jos. Lazonius, of a Soldier of thirty five Years of Age, who had a Swelling in his right Hip, accompany’d with great Pain, &c. By the Use of emollient Medicines, having ripen’d the Sore, the Surgeon intended the next Day to have open’d it; but about Midnight, the Patient having great Provocations to stool, disburthen’d himself three Times; immediately upon which, both the Tumor and Pain ceas’d, and thereby disappointed the Surgeon’s Intentions. Ephem. Germ. Anno 1690. Obs. 49. More such Instances we find of Mr. Tonges in Philos. Transact. Nᵒ. 323. But indeed there are so many Examples of this Nature in our Phil. Trans. in the Ephem. German. Tho. Bartholine, Rhodius, Sennertus, Hildanus, &c. that it would be endless to recount them. Some have swallow’d Knives, Bodkins, Needles and Pins, Bullets, Pebbles, and twenty other such Things as could not find a Passage the ordinary Way, but have met with an Exit through the Bladder, or some other Way of Nature’s own providing. But passing over many Particulars, I shall only give one instance more, because it may be a good Caution to some Persons, that these Papers may probably fall into the Hands of; and that is, The Danger of swallowing Plum-stones, Prune-stones, &c. Sir Francis Butler’s Lady had many Prune-stones that made Way through an Abscess near her Navel. Philos. Trans. Nᵒ. 165. where are other such like Examples. More also may be found in Nᵒ. 282, 304, &c. And at this Day, a young Man, living not far off me, laboureth under very troublesome and dangerous Symptoms, from the Stones of Sloes and Bullace, which he swallow’d eight or ten Years ago.