DEP/DUA/1/25/05 (Normalised version)

Pegy Nicolson

(1780-1781)

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Pegy Nicolson

Course of this patients attendance, as well as former, very short here.

Still less to be said with regard to case.

For while under care hardly opportunity of judging of it.

Most urgent symptom of disease affection of throat.

And that appeared under form of inflammation of fauces & Amygdala with difficulty of deglutition.

But in this except in duration nothing peculiar

And indeed chiefly led to select this patient as subject of lecture on [another] account.

Viz. very considerable degree of hoarseness to which subjected.

This not indeed dangerous but always inconvenient & often distressing symptom.

And though in most instances very slight yet in others, will obstinately resist every mode of cure.

Have in my own practice met with several instances of Paraphonia [where] all endeavours to no purpose.

And which both before & after under my care treated with equally little success by other practitioners.

Hence then consider subject as by no means unworthy of attention of practice

On this account therefore selected present.

And from continuation for space of five weeks before came under care was apprehensive that should not find it slight.

Now however hopeful that in this opinion somewhat mistaken.

And that patients desertion has proceeded from finding that attendance no longer necessary

This however merely conjecture.

And even supposing it to be the case, no less at loss to say how far treatment directed has had any share in it

Began treatment by prescribing for patient an electuary of Sulphur & Cream of Tartar

In this had principally in view the obviating costiveness to which subjected.

But imagined also that by gently opening belly affection of throat might be diminished.

And that in as far as hoarseness depended on this might have effect in diminishing it.

Could not however expect great benefits from it on better footing.

Directed therefore another medicine particularly with view to this viz Mistura Oleosa.

Which in such cases often of great advantage as lubricating fauces.

Electuary here employed full effect expected from it.

Not only obviated costiveness but produced considerable evacuation.

As this evacuation not product of relief of affection of throat led to discontinue medicine.

Still however with same interval as formerly persisted in use of oily mixture.

And with view of acting as [illegible] directed external application of volatile liniment.

But what effect of application as have since seen nothing of patient have not been able to learn.

And any farther suggestions therefore with regard to practice now unnecessary.