An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

Remarkable was the Preservation and Restoration which the gracious providence of God vouchsafed to Abigail Eliot, the Daughter of Elder Eliot of Boston in New-England; concerning whom a near and precious Relation of hers, informs me, that when she was a Child about five years old, playing with other Children under a Cart an iron hinge being sharp at the lower end happened to strike her head between the right Ear and the Crown of her Head, and pierced into the skull and Brain. The Child making an outcry, the Mother came; and immediately drew out the Iron, and thereupon some of the Brains of her Child which stuck to the Iron, and other bits were scattered on her Forehead. Able Chirurgeons were sent for; in special Mr. Oliver and Mr. Prat. The Head being uncovered, there appeared just upon the place where the Iron pierced the Skull, a bunch as big as a small Egg. A question arose, whether the skin should not be cut and dilated from the Orifice of the Wound to the Swelling, and so take it away. This Mr. Prat inclined unto, but Mr. Oliver opposed, pleading that then the Air would get to the Brain, and the Child would presently ⟨p. 34⟩die. Mr. Oliver was desired to undertake the Cure. And thus was his operation. He gently drove the soft matter of the bunch unto the Wound, and pressed so much out as well he could; there came forth about a spoonful, the matter which came forth was Brains and Blood (some curdles of Brain were white and not stained with Blood) so did he apply a Plaster. The Skull wasted where it was pierced to the bigness of an half Crown piece of Silver or more. The skin was exceeding tender, so that a Silver Plate like the skull was always kept in the place to defend it from any touch or injury. The Brains of the Child did swell and swage according to the Tides. When it was Spring Tide, her Brain would heave up the tender skin, and fill the place sometimes. When it it was Nip Tide, they would be •unk and fallen within the skull. This Child lived to be the Mother of two Children. And (which is marvellous) she was not by this Wound made defective in her Memory o• Understanding.

Remarkable was the Preservation and Restoration which the gracious providence of God vouchsafed to Abigail Eliot, the Daughter of Elder Eliot of Boston in New-England; concerning whom a near and precious Relation of hers, informs me, that when she was a Child about five years old, playing with other Children under a Cart an iron hinge being sharp at the lower end hapned to strike her head between the right Ear and the Crown of her Head, and pierced into the skull and Brain. The Child making an outcry, the Mother came; and immediately drew out the Iron, and thereupon some of the Brains of her Child which stuck to the Iron, and other bits were scattered on her Forehead. Able Chyrurgeons were sent for; in special Mr. Oliver and Mr. Prat. The Head being uncovered, there appeared just upon the place where the Iron pierced the Skull, a bunch as big as a small Egg. A question arose, whether the skin should not be cut and dilated from the Orifice of the Wound to the Swelling, and so take it away. This Mr. Prat inclined unto, but Mr. Oliver opposed, pleading that then the Air would get to the Brain, and the Child would presently