DEP/DUA/1/12/26 (Normalised version)

Margaret Hunter

(1776-1777)

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Margaret Hunter

This patient but very short time under our care.

And history of case does not afford room for many remarks.

From history of her disease could have little hesitation in pronouncing it an affection of febrile kind.

Yet with regular & complete intermission

From return of accession every second day appeared evidently to be of tertian type.

But from not recurring regularly at any particular hour could not esteem it the legitimate tertian or regular tertian.

Such a condition of this affection however by no means uncommon.

And could have no hesitation in pronouncing complaint of this patient to be an irregular tertian

With regard to termination of this disease saw no circumstance which could be supposed to threaten danger.

Had indeed before came under our care been of very considerable duration.

But in respect of violence had from her account suffered very considerable diminishment.

And seemed indeed to have what might be called tendency to natural cure.

Although intermittent a disease much under power of art yet sometimes happens that will resist every effort to cure.

And at last even of themselves cease.

Or at least after certain standing be removed with much greater facility than before.

This has even gone such length that among vulgar reckoned improper to check them at commencement.

A doctrine however which although in saving expense of bark may be oeconomic¹ yet upon whole very improper.

Yet still must be allowed that one period at which much more readily curable than at another.

And to this consider case before us to have advanced

In this situation thought it advisable to put patient on use of the bark.

Directed it to be given to extent of ℥i. in doses of ʒp.

And that might be more certain of affect [premediated] to employment, use of an emetic.

Emetics operated as might have been expected & Peruvian Bark attended with desired affects.

For after taking the quantity directed had little or no return of shivering fits.

Could not however absolutely depend on permanency of cure.

And as patient complains of uneasiness at stomach wished rather to try a medicine of power somewhat similar than to repeat bark.

Was from these considerations that put patient on use of Infusion amarum.

And from this medicine continued tolerably easy for space of several days.

But at that time probably from some accidental occurrence a vomiting arose.

To allay this had recourse to an anodyne draught

And after time that patient took it had no farther return of vomiting.

As continued also free from any threatening of intermittent dismissed her from any farther attendance here

Since that indeed has not continued in perfect health.

For soon after being dismissed became affected with slight jaundice.

Which however in short time yielded to ordinary practice.

And even during easterly winds of late prevalent has had no threatening of intermittent

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Explanatory notes:

1) Oeconomy is an archaic spelling of economy. In the context of medicine, the term animal oeconomy refers to the living system and its management. In these case notes all but one of the cases where this term is used are female.