that, to convince the unbelieving, she would frequently spout it above a yard from her a particular which, among others, the good man and woman of the house, and others of the neighbourhood likewise, assured me of. Now her left breast is run dry, and she has no great quantity in the right; but what there is, is as good milk as one may desire in a nurse. The poor woman seems perfectly honest and artless, and even inclines strongly to dotage: she very religiously throws the whole upon a miracle."

II. Dr. Montègré's History. Having collected a number of analogous facts, Dr. M. published them in the 'Gazette de Santé,' in connexion with the following, which came under his own observation. "La Femme Charles," a delicate female, had male twins in 1810, but from the great weakness of her constitution, she could hardly supply one of them with milk; and, in consequence of extreme poverty, was unable to procure the services of a nurse. Af fected by this discouraging embarrassment, says Dr. M., her mother took one of the infants and put it to her own breast, which the babe instantly seized and began to suck. This ingenious grandmother was then in the sixty-fifth year of her age, and had been twentynine years a widow. At first her breasts yielded a fluid, in small quantity; but in a few days, her infantine grandchild drew from them an abundance of healthy milk. This tender nurseling continued for two and twenty months to be nourished at its grandmother's breasts; and throughout all that period was more vigorous than its brother who imbibed his sustenance from their common pa

the active and laborious inmate of a peasant's cottage; her person is short and well-proportioned: at one time she weighed about 14 stone: her temperament is the neuro-sanguineous, distinctly marked. The peculiar circumstances of her history being extensively known in the district where she resides, she has been visited by many clerical, medical, and other curious inquirers.

J. W. had two husbands. Previously to her first marriage, her menstrual secretion appeared at regular periods: it continued nine days usually, and was very profuse, but preceded and accompanied with little pain or disturbance of the system. After this went, it returned only nine times, at distant and irregular intervals; and on each of these occasions it was abundant, without causing any perceptible diminution of her milk.

J. W. was first married in 1777; her first child was born in May 1778; and from that period till May, 1825, her lacteous secretion never in the least subsided. Besides giving her breast freely and frequently to the young ones of her neighbours, she suckled six children of her own by her first husband, and eight nurselings: she had two miscarriages. Her first confinement was followed by an excessive uterine discharge, which continued three weeks and induced considerable debility. No infant, however vigorous, was ever nearly able to use her supply of milk; and, in consequence, she often had her "breasts drawn " to the amount of two quarts in a day: her belief is, that, in general, she could have suckled four lively children, at the same time. Many attempts were made, even under medical direction, to suspend the secretion of her milk; but they all utterly failed. Her breasts often became tense and painful; and, for the removal of this state, she had them well rubbed with butter made from the cream of her own milk; this process was invariably advantageous. Sometimes about a pint of this cream was collected, and the butter it yielded was white, and soft as lard, with a sweet taste. Judy took much food, and seldom had recourse to medicine; it is her boast, indeed, that

"she never paid a shilling in her life for doctoring, for the sake of her health;" her bowels generally were torpid, often constipated.

. J. W. was a widow nearly three years, and gave suck to her own and other children during the whole of that period. She had one still-born child to her second husband. Her breasts even now retain a size quite extraordinary, and the axillary glands are occasionally large. Soon after the disappearance of her milk, in 1825, her health became more variable, her energies gradually failed, and her voice, which still is strong, lost its natural strength. Her actual powers of mind seem to have experienced little change; she continues "heart-whole;" her appetite is considerably impaired; she wishes to eat of ten, but takes little food at one time; her sleep is disturbed and unrefreshing, and a cough gives her occasional annoyance; her pulse is full, soft, not quick, and resistant. For many months, she has been slightly troubled with those periodical disturbances by which menstruation is preceded.

Although Judy's milk ceased, for a time, in 1825, it repeatedly appeared in minute quantities during the five subsequent years; but, since the Autumn of 1830, the secretion of this fluid has been constant, and, if encouraged (she thinks), would be sufficient to nourish a child; from attempting this, however, she is deterred by the idea, that "it would soon be the end of her." December 6th, 1831. This day, being in the middle of her 81st year, Judy readily filled a small spoon with her milk, by squeezing her left breast frequently with the hand. This milk was rich and sweet, and not different from that yielded by young and healthy mothers.

!

Here, then, are the remarkable circumstances of a woman who menstruated during lactation-who suckled children uninterruptedly through the full course of forty-seven years-and who, in her eighty-first year, has a moderate but regular secretion of milk.

LXII.

ANEURISM, FROM WOUND OF THE BRACHIAL ARTERY IN VENÆSECTION. "FOUR forms of aneurism may arise in the bend of the arm from a wound of the brachial artery (sometimes the radial) in venæsection, aneurismal varix, varicose aneurism, diffused and circumscribed false aneurism. Respecting the treatment of the two last, considerable difference of opinion exists among practical surgeons, some contend that both require operation, whilst others maintain their curability by compression.

The advocates for the operation have not as yet decided upon the precise situation where the vessel should be secured, nor upon the mode of securing it, some apply a ligature upon the vessel above the aneurism, and depend upon the absorbents for the removal of the tumour, whilst others open the aneurism and tie the artery above and below, the wound.

The supporters of the mode by compression have not agreed either upon the place where the compressing force should be applied, nor upon its degree; some direct violent pressure to be made upon the vessel above the aneurism to obliterate its canal, whilst others are content to apply very slight pressure to the tumour itself.

In the midst of such conflicting opinions, we must appeal to facts, before we can arrive at any thing like a satisfactory conclusion."

CASE 1. Circumscribed Traumatic Aneurism-Cure by Compression.

John Miley, æt. 27, applied at Stevens' Hospital on the 11th October, 1828, with circumscribed aneurism of the brachial artery in the bend of the arm. The tumour was firm, pulsatory, about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, apparently intimately connected with the artery. It was diminished by pressure, and regained its size on its removal. The radial pulse was weaker on that side than on the other. The integuments presented a small cicatrix,

* Dublin Journal, No. II.

The patient had been bled by a blackemith thirteen days previously. The patient observed "the beating tumour" on the removal of the bandage several days afterwards. The case appeared a fair one for the employment of compression.

"The patient was immediately confined to bed, the limb placed upon a pillow, some cathartic mixture prescribed, and sixteen ounces of blood abstracted from the opposite arm.

The next day, a thin compress of wetted lint was laid upon the aneurism, and a roller bandage applied from the fingers to the bend of the arm, in the manner recommended by Genga, care being taken that the compression should not extend above the aneurism, the turns of the bandage over the aneurism were very loosely applied. The patient was desired to keep the compress constantly moistened with cold water, and to take a draught containing two drops of tincture of digitalis every sixth hour. Two days subsequently, the bandage was opened and re-applied, the draught was continued, and he had sixteen ozs. of blood taken from the opposite limb.

On the 7th day, the aneurism felt more solid, and did not diminish so sensibly when compressed. The bandage was re-applied, and a compress of sponge substituted for the lint. The digitalis continued, and other treatment as before.

On the 12th day, the aneurism appeared sensibly diminished, and much more solid; the pulsation in it was less distinct, whilst that at the wrist appeared more full. Bandage continued; the turns which passed over the compress being applied more firmly than before. Pulse 66. Patient is in perfect health, but complains much of the strict antiphlogistic regimen which he is compelled to observe. He was ordered to take a draught, containing thirty drops of tincture of digitalis, every second hour.

In the evening his pulse was down to 38. He did not complain of nausea or giddiness. The draughts were discontinued.

On the 14th day, the digitalis was

administered in doses of twenty drops every sixth hour.

On the 20th day, the tumour was not larger than a marble, perfectly hard and without pulsation. The radial pulse beat firmly, and nearly as full as on the opposite limb. The bandage was reapplied, the compressing force being increased. Digitalis omitted. Antiphlogistic treatment still persevered in. On the 30th day, there was no trace of the aneurism; the brachial artery could be felt pulsating strongly beneath the cicatrix in the integument, and the radial pulse appeared as full as that of the opposite limb.

On examining the patient eighteen months subsequent to his dismissal from the Hospital, no trace of the aneurism could be detected, the artery pulsated beneath the cicatrix strongly; the pulsé at the wrist felt perfectly natural, and he stated, that he had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from the arm, in pursuing his very laborious occupation."

CASE 2.-Circumscribed Aneurism—

Compression-Cure.

Terence M'Evoy, æt. 25, was admitted into Dr. Stevens' Hospital March 2d, 1829, with circumscribed aneurism at the bend of the arm. The tumor was distinctly circumscribed, fully as large as a turkey's egg, pulsating, uniformly elastic, except at its anterior part, where it felt soft and pulsated most strongly. Pressure on the brachial artery stopped its pulsation but did not diminish its size. An artery of considerable magnitude ran over its anterior surface, but did not seem to be connected with it. The integuments were healthy; an old cicatrix was observable on the centre of the swelling. Nine months previously he had been bled, and, on removing the bandages three days afterwards, he noticed a small pulsating tumour. The treatment so nearly resembles that adopted in the preceding case, that we need not stop to particularize its items. the 50th day there was no trace of the aneurism, the artery which had been wounded could be felt pulsating strong

On