Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758.

17. Abutilon repens alceæ foliis, flore helvolo Dillen. Hort. Elth. 5. Malva Caroliniana Sp. pl. 688. _Creeping Indian Mallow with leaves like Vervain Mallow, and a flesh-coloured flower._ These open at nine or ten in the morning, and close at one in the afternoon.

18. Tragopogon luteum Ger. 595. Raii Syn. 171. Tragopogon pratense Sp. pl. 789. _Yellow Goats Beard_, or _Go-to-bed-at-noon_. The latter of these names was given to this plant long since, on account of this remarkable property. The flowers open in general about three or four o’clock, and close again about nine or ten, in the morning. These flowers will perform their _vigiliæ_, if set in a phial of water, within doors for several mornings successively; and I have sometimes observed them to be quite closed, from their utmost state of expansion, in less than a quarter of an hour. It flowers in June.

19. Tragopogon gramineis foliis, hirsutis. C. B. pin. 275. Raii. Hist. Plant. 253. _Rose-coloured Goats Beard._ These open between five and six in the morning, and close about eleven. Tragopog. hybridum Sp. plant. 789.

20. Tragopogon, calycibus corolla brevioribus inermibus, foliis lyrato-sinuatis. Hort. Ups. 244. Sp. pl. 790. Hall. Hort. Gotting. 2. p. 419. The flowers of this plant open at six or seven in the morning, and shut between the hours of twelve and four in the afternoon.

21. Sonchus Tingitanus papaveris folio. Tourn. Raii Suppl. 137. Scorzonera Tingitana Sp. pl. 791. _African Sowthistle with a poppy leaf._ This plant opens its flowers between four and six in the morning, and closes them in about three hours.

22. Sonchus repens, multis hieracium majus J. B. II. 1017. Raii Syn. 163. Sonchus arvensis Sp. pl. 793. _Tree Sowthistle._ These flowers expand about six or seven, and close between eleven and twelve in the forenoon. This is common in corn-fields, and flowers in June, July, and August.

23. Sonchus lævis Ger. Raii Syn. 161. Sonchus oleraceus Sp. pl. 794. _Smooth or unprickly Sowthistle, Hares Lettuce._ These open about five in the morning, and close again at eleven or twelve.

24. Sonchus lævis laciniatus cæruleus C. B. pin. 124. Raii Hist. pl. 225. Sonchus alpinus Sp. pl. 794. _Blue-flowered Mountain Sowthistle._ These open about seven, and close about noon.

25. Sonchus tricubitalis, folio cuspidato Merr. pin. Raii Syn. 163. Sonchus asper arborescens C. B. pin. 124. Sonchus palustris Sp. pl. 793. _The greatest Marsh tree Sowthistle._ It expands its flowers about six or seven, and closes them about two in the afternoon.

26. Lactuca sativa C. B. pin. 122. Sp. pl. 795. _Garden Lettuce_, opens its flowers about seven, and closes them about ten, in the forenoon.

27. Dens leonis Ger. 228. Raii Syn. 170. Leontodon Taraxacum Sp. pl. 798. _Dandelion._ It expands at five or six, and closes at eight or nine, in the forenoon. This flowers early in the spring, and again in the autumn.

28. Dens leonis hirsutus leptocaulos, Hieracium dictus. Raii Syn. 171. Leontodon hispidum Sp. pl. 799. _Rough Dandelion_, or _Dandelion Hawkweed_. This plant opens its flower about four in the morning, and keeps it expanded till three in the afternoon. In May.

29. Hieracium minus præmorsa radice. Park. 794. Raii Syn. 164. Leontodon autumnale. Sp. pl. 799. _Hawkweed with bitten roots_, or _Yellow Devil’s-bit_. The flowers open about seven, and keep in an expanded state till about three in the afternoon. It flowers in July and August.

30. Pilosella repens Ger. 573. Raii Syn. 170. Hieracium Pilosella Sp. pl. 800. _Common creeping Mouse-ear._ It opens about eight in the morning, and closes about two in the afternoon. Very common on dry pastures, flowering in June and July.

31. Hieracium murorum folio pilosissimo C. B. pin. 129. Raii Syn. 168. Hieracium murorum Sp. pl. 802. The flowers of this plant expand about six or seven, and close about two in the afternoon. Upon old walls, flowering in June and July. This is called in English, _French_ or _Golden Lungwort_.

32. Hieracium fruticosum angustifolium majus. C. B. pin. 129. Hieracium umbellatum Sp. pl. 804. _Narrow-leaved bushy Hawkweed._ The flowers of this species expand about six in the morning, and remain open till five in the afternoon.

33. Hieracium fruticosum latifolium hirsutum C. B. pin. 129. Raii Syn. p. 167. Hieracium sabaudum Sp. pl. 804. _Bushy Hawkweed with broad rough leaves._ These flowers are in their expanded state from about seven in the morning till one or two in the afternoon. In woods, flowering in June and July.

34. Hieracium montanum cichorii folio. Raii. Syn. p. 166. Hieracium paludosum Sp. pl. 638. Fl. Suec. 2. Nº. 702. _Succory-leaved Mountain Hawkweed._ The flowers expand about six in the morning, and close about five in the afternoon.

35. Hieracium hortense floribus atro-purpurascentibus C. B. pin. 128. Hieracium aurantiacum Sp. pl. 801. _Garden Hawkweed with deep purple flowers_, or _Sweet Indian Mouse-ear_. The flowers are in their expanded state from six or seven in the morning till three or four in the afternoon.

36. Hieracium luteum glabrum, sive minus hirsutum. J. B. Raii Syn. 165. Crepis tectorum Sp. pl. 807. _Smooth Succory Hawkweed._ The flowers of this plant expand about four in the morning, and close about noon.

37. Hieracium Alpinum Scorzoneræ folio Tourn. Inst. 472. Crepis Alpina Sp. pl. 806. _Mountain Hawkweed with a vipers-grass leaf._ These open about five or six, and close at eleven in the forenoon.

38. Hieracium dentis leonis folio, flore suave-rubente, C. B. pin. 127. Raii hist. pl. 231. Crepis rubra Sp. pl. 806. _Hawkweed of Apulia with a flesh-coloured flower._ The flowers remain in their expanded state from six or seven in the morning till one or two in the afternoon.

39. Hieracium echioides, capitulis cardui benedicti C. B. pin. 128. Raii Syn. 166. Picris echioides Sp. pl. 792. _Lang de bœuf._ On banks about hedges, and about the borders of fields, flowering in August. These expand about four or five in the morning, and never close before noon: sometimes they remain open till nine at night.

40. Hieracium Alpinum latifolium hirsutie incanum flore magno. C. B. pin. 128. Raii Syn. p. 167. Hypochæris maculata Sp. pl. 810. _Broad-leaved Hungarian Hawkweed._ These flowers are in their vigilating state from six in the morning till four in the afternoon.

41. Hieracium ramosum, floribus amplis, calycibus valde hirsutis, foliis oblongis obtusis: dentibus majoribus inæqualibus incisis Raii Suppl. 144. 76. Hypochæris Achyrophorus Sp. pl. 810. This plant opens its flowers about seven or eight in the morning, and closes them about two in the afternoon.

42. Hieracium minus dentis leonis folio, oblongo glabro C. B. pin. 127. Hypochæris glabra Sp. pl. 811. These expand about nine in the morning, and close about twelve or one o’clock.

43. Hieracium falcatum alterum Raii Hist. 256. Lapsana calycibus fructus undique patentibus, radiis subulatis, foliis lyratis Hort. Ups. 245. Sp. pl. 812. The flowers open at five or six, and close between the hours of ten and one.

44. Hedypnois annua Tourn. Inst. 478. Hyoseris hedypnois Sp. pl. 809. The flowers open at seven or eight, and close again at two in the afternoon.

45. Hieracium montanum alterum leptomacrocaulon Col. Raii Hist. 234. Lapsana chondrilloides Sp. pl. 812. _Mountain Hawkweed with long slender stalks and small flowers._ The flowers are in their expanded or vigilating state from five or six in the morning till about ten.

46. Cichoreum sylvestre Ger. em. 284. Raii Syn. 172. Cichorium Intybus Sp. pl. 813. _Wild Succory._ On the borders of fields, flowering in August and September. The flowers open about eight in the forenoon, and keep expanded till about four in the afternoon.

47. Calendula arvensis C. B. pin. 275. Raii Hist. 338. Calendula officinalis Sp. pl. 921. _Wild Marigold._ The flowers expand from nine in the morning till three in the afternoon.

48. Calendula foliis dentatis Roy. Ludg. 177. Miller, p. 50. Tab. 75. f. 1. Calendula pluvialis Sp. pl. 921. _Marigold with indented leaves._ The flowers expand from seven in the morning till three or four in the afternoon. Linnæus observes of this plant, that if its flowers do not expand about their usual time in the morning, it will almost assuredly rain that day; with this restriction indeed, that the plant is not affected by thunder showers. Phil. Bot. 275.

49. Sonchus pedunculis squamatis, foliis lanceolatis indivisis sessilibus. Hort. Upsal. 244. Flor. Suec. 2. Nº. 690. Lactuca Salicis folio, flore cæruleo. Amman. ruth. 211. Of this plant it is remarked, that whenever the flowers are in the expanded state in the night-time, the following day generally proves rainy.

LXVI. _An Account of the Case of a Boy troubled with convulsive Fits cured by the Discharge of Worms. By the Rev._ Richard Oram, _M. A. Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of_ Ely.

[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]

JOseph, son of John and Mary Postle, of Ingham in the county of Norfolk, was subject to convulsive fits from his infancy; which were common and tolerable till he was about seven years of age. About that time they began to attack him in all the varieties that can be conceived. Sometimes he was thrown upon the ground; sometimes he was twirled round like a top by them; at others he would spring upwards to a considerable height, _&c._ and once he leaped over an iron bar, that was placed purposely before the fire to prevent his falling into it. He was much burned; but was rendered so habitually stupid by his fits, that he never expressed the least sense of pain after this accident. His intellect was so much impaired, and almost destroyed, by the frequency and violence of his fits, that he scarce seemed to be conscious of any thing. He did not acknowlege his father or mother by any expressions or signs; nor seemed to distinguish them from other people. If at any time he escaped out of the house without the observation of the family, he had not understanding to find and return to it; but would pursue the direction or road he first took, and sometimes lose himself. Once he was missing for a whole night; and found the next morning in the middle of a fen, stuck fast in mud as deep as his breast. He was very voracious, and would frequently call for something to eat; which was the only indication he gave of his knowing any thing. No kind of filth or nastiness can be conceived, which he would not eat or drink without distinction. He appeared to be as ill as he really was; for he was become a most shocking spectacle. He was so much emaciated, that he seemed to have no flesh upon his bones; and his body so distorted, that he was rendered quite a cripple. His parents consulted a physician at Norwich, who very judiciously (as it will appear) considered his disorder as a worm-case, and prescribed for it accordingly; but (being afraid, I presume, to give too violent medicines to the boy) without success. In short, he was so singularly afflicted, that his parents told me they could not help thinking him under some evil influence.

It was observed, that his disorder varied, and grew worse, at certain periods of the moon.

In these miserable circumstances the poor boy continued to languish, till he was about eleven years of age (July 1757), when he accidentally found a mixture of white lead[18] and oil, which had some time before been prepared for some purpose of painting, set by on a shelf, and placed, as it was thought, out of his reach. There was near half a pint of this mixture when he found it; and, as he did not leave much, it is thought he swallowed about a quarter of a pint of it. There was also some lamp-black in the composition; which was added to give it a proper colour for the particular use it was intended for in painting. It was, as I suppose it usually is, linseed oil, which had been mixed with the lead and lamp-black.

The draught began to operate very soon, by vomiting and purging him for near 24 hours in the most violent manner. A large quantity of black inky matter was discharged; and an infinite number of worms, almost as small as threads, were voided. These operations were so intense, that his life was despaired of. But he has not only survived them, but experienced a most wonderful change and improvement after them: for his parents assured me in November 1757, when I saw him, that he had daily grown better from the time of his drinking the mixture, both in body and mind. Instead of a skeleton, as he almost was before, he is become fat, and rather corpulent: and his appetite is no longer ravenous, but moderate and common. His body too is become straight and erect. His understanding is at least as much benefited by this peculiar remedy. It cannot be expected, that he should already have attained much knowlege, as he seemed, before he was so wonderfully relieved, to be almost destitute of ideas. But he appeared, when I saw him, to have acquired nearly as much knowlege in four months, as children usually do in four years; and to reason pretty well on those things, which he knew. He is now capable of being employed on many occasions; is often sent a mile or two on errands, which he discharges as carefully, and then returns as safely, as any person.

It is farther remarkable, that the boy’s mother, her father, and sister, are frequently infested with worms. Her father, tho’ about 60 years of age, is still much troubled with them: the worms, which he voids, appear flat, and much larger than those, which his children have observed. Her sister is often exceedingly disordered by them. About three months since they threw her into violent convulsions, and for some time deprived her of her senses. But the mother of the boy has been affected in a more extraordinary manner than the rest. About 20 years ago she voided some worms, which forced their way thro’ the pores of the skin, as it is supposed; for they were found in small clusters under her arms. As she was very young then, she does not remember how she was particularly affected; only, that she suffered violent struggles and convulsions. She is still, about five or six times in a year, seized with fainting fits, which usually attack her in bed, and last three or four minutes; but she cannot certainly say, tho’ there is very little reason to doubt, that they are occasioned by worms.

_An Account of the same Subject, in a Letter from Mr._ John Gaze, _of_ Walket, _in the County of_ Norfolk, _to Mr._ Wm. Arderon, _F.R.S. Communicated by Mr._ Henry Baker, _F.R.S._

[Read Jan. 26, 1758.]

JOseph Postle, son of John Postle, of Ingham in Norfolk, until about the age of seven years was an healthy well-looking child; but about that age was afflicted with stoppages, which often threw him into convulsive fits, and at last rendered him quite an idiot. He continued in this condition for about four years, eating and drinking all that time any thing that came in his way, even his own excrements, if not narrowly watched. His father took the advice of several eminent physicians, both at Norwich and elsewhere; but all their prescriptions proved of no service.

About the beginning of August last he happened to get at a painting-pot, wherein there was about a pound of white lead and lamp-black mixed up with linseed oil. This he eat almost all up before he was discovered. It vomited and purged him, and brought away prodigious numbers of small worms. In a few days he grew well, his senses returned, and he is now able to give as rational answers as can be expected from a boy of his age. His appetite is good, he is very brisk, and has not had the least return of his former disorder.

I heard of the above by several people; but not being satisfied, got my friend to go to Mr. Postle’s house, of whom he had the foregoing account.

January 12th, 1758.

LXVII. _An Account of the extraordinary Heat of the Weather in_ July 1757, _and of the Effects of it. In a Letter from_ John Huxham, _M. D. F.R.S. to_ Wm. Watson, _M. D. F.R.S._

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

I Find by your letter, that the heat at London was not so great in the beginning of July 1757, as at Plymouth by two or three degrees of Fahrenheit’s thermometer. We had again, after much rain at the close of the month, and in the beginning of August, excessive heat; _viz._ on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of August; which mounted the mercury in that thermometer to 85; nay, on the 9th, to near 86. I never before remember the mercury in that thermometer to exceed 84; and that is even here a very extraordinary degree of heat.

The consequences of this extremely hot season were hæmorrhages from several parts of the body; the nose especially in men and children, and the uterus in women. Sudden and violent pains of the head, and vertigo, profuse sweats, great debility and oppression of the spirits, affected many. There were putrid fevers in great abundance; and a vast quantity of fluxes of the belly both bilious and bloody, with which the fevers also were commonly attended. These fevers were always ushered in by severe pains of the head, back, and stomach; vomitings of green and sometimes of black bile, with vast oppression of the _præcordia_, continual anxiety, and want of sleep. These were soon succeeded by _tremores tendinum_, _subsultus_, delirium, or stupor. The pulse was commonly very quick, but seldom tense or strong; was sometimes heavy and undose. The blood oftentimes florid, but loose; sometimes livid, very rarely sizy: in some however, at the very attack, it was pretty dense and florid. The tongue was generally foul, brown, and sometimes blackish; and towards the crisis often dry. The urine was commonly high coloured, and in small quantity; frequently turbid, and towards the end deposed a great deal of lateritious sediment. A vast number were seized with this fever, during, and soon after, the excessive heats; tho’ but few died in proportion. Long and great heats always very much exalt the acrimony of the bilious humours; of which we had this summer abundant instances.

Bleeding early was generally beneficial; profuse, always hurtful, especially near the state of the fever.

LXVIII. _An Account of the fossile Thigh-bone of a large Animal, dug up at_ Stonesfield, _near_ Woodstock, _in_ Oxfordshire. _In a Letter to Mr._ Peter Collinson, _F.R.S. from Mr._ Joshua Platt.

[Read Feb. 2, 1758.]

Dear Sir,

ABOUT three years ago I sent you some _vertebræ_ of an enormous size, which were found in the slate-stone pit at Stonesfield, near Woodstock, in this county.

[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIX. _p. 525_.

_J. Mynde sc._]

I have lately been so lucky as to procure from the same place the thigh-bone of a large animal, which probably belonged to the same creature, or one of the same genus, with the _vertebræ_ above-mentioned.

As the bone, and the stone, in which it is bedded, weigh no less than two hundred pounds, I have sent you a drawing of it (_See_ TAB. XIX.); from which, and the following short description, you may, I hope, form some idea of this wonderful fossile.

The bone is 29 inches in length; its diameter, at the extremity of the two trochanters, is 8 inches; at the lower extremity the condyles form a surface of 6 inches. The lesser trochanter is so well expressed in the drawing, that you cannot mistake it; and both the extremities appear to be a little rubbed by the fluctuating water, in which I apprehend it lay some time before the great jumble obtained, which brought it to this place; and from whence I imagine it to have been part of a skeleton before the flood. For if it had been corroded by any menstruum in the earth, or during the great conflux of water before the draining of the earth, it must have suffered in other parts as well as at each end: but as the extremities only are injured, we can attribute such a partial effect to the motion of the water only, which caused it to rub and strike against the sand, _&c._