Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/41

 of the times. It was observed 'by the spectators that she seemed to take an unconscionable time in dying, so her friends went to assist her in getting out of this world, some of them thumping her on the breast, others hanging with all their weight upon her legs, sometimes lifting her up and then pulling her down again with a sudden jerk.' At length the Sheriff was satisfied, and the unfortunate woman was certified to be dead. The body was then cut down, put into a coffin, and taken to the dissecting room. When, however, the coffin lid was opened she was seen to be still breathing and to 'rattle,' 'which being observed by a lusty fellow who stood by, he, thinking to do an act of charity in ridding her out of the reliques of a painful life, stamped several times on her breast and stomach with all the force he could.' Just at this moment, however, Dr. Petty and Dr. Wilkins appeared on the scene, and recognising distinct signs of life, decided to attempt to revive the supposed corpse. They wrenched open Ann Green's teeth, poured cordials down her throat, and persuaded a woman to go to bed with her to restore warmth. Signs of life soon began to appear; the doctors bled her, ordered her a julep, and so left her for the night. In two hours she began to talk. The dead had come to life. Though legally defunct, she is said to have survived to marry and become the mother of children, in spite of the Sheriff and to the confusion of the hangman.

Soon after this exploit Dr. Petty was made Vice-Principal of Brasenose, and succeeded Dr. Clayton in the Chair of Anatomy, the duties of which he had practically been for some time performing, 'upon Dr. Clayton renouncing his interest therein purposely to serve him.' He delivered his inaugural lectures on March 4, 1651, in Latin, as the custom then was. He took for his subject the growth and present position of the science of medicine, a large subject, as the Professor started by acknowledging. 'Ego equidem optarem,' he went on, 'ut