Note m — BOOK VIII.
Reading edition
The Animals ordinarily bred in the Stomach and Guts, are the three Sorts of Worms call’d Lati, Teretes, and Ascarides; concerning which, it would be irksome to speak in Particular, and therefore I shall refer to Moufet, L. 2. c. 31, 32, 33. Dr. Tyson’s Anatomy of them in Mr. Lowthorp’s Abridg. V. 3. p. 121. Seignior Redi’s Obs. and others that have written of them.
And not only Worms, but other Creatures also are said to be found in the Stomach; Instances of which are so innumerable, that I shall only select a few related by Persons of the best Credit. And first of all, by some of our own Countrymen. Dr. Lister, (whose Credit and Judgment will hastily be question’d,) gives an Account of true Caterpillars, vomited up by a Boy of nine Years old; and another odd Animal by a poor Man. Mr. Jessop, (another very judicious, curious and ingenious Gentleman,) saw Hexapods vomited up by a Girl; which Hexapods liv’d and fed for five Weeks. See Lowth. ib. p. 135.
And to Foreigners, it is a very strange Story (but attested by Persons of great Repute,) of Catharina Geileria, that dy’d in Feb. 1662, in the Hospital of Altenburg, in Germany, who for twenty Years voided by Vomit and Stool, Toads and Lizzards, &c. Ephemer. Germ. T. 1. Obs. 103. See also the 109. Observation of a Kitten bred in the Stomach, and vomited up; of Whelps also, and other Animals, bred in like Manner. But I fear a Stretch of Fancy might help in some of those last Instances, in those Days when spontaneous Generation was held, when the Philosophers seem to have more slightly examined such Appearances than now they do. But for the breeding of Frogs or Toads, or Lacertæ Aquaticæ in the Stomach, when their Spawn happeneth to be drank, there is a Story in the second Tome of the Ephem. Germ. Obs. 56. that favours it, viz. In the Year 1667, a Butcher’s Man going to buy some Lambs in the Spring, being thirsty, drank greedily of some standing Water, which a while after, caus’d great Pains in his Stomach, which grew worse and worse, and ended in dangerous Symptoms. At last he thought somewhat was alive in his Stomach, and after that, vomited up three live Toads; and so recover’d his former Health.
Such another Story Dr. Sorbait tells, and avoucheth it seen with his own Eyes, of one that had a Toad came out of an Abscess, which came upon drinking foul Water. Obs. 103.