DEP/DUA/1/26/16 (Normalised version)

John Hamilton

(1780)

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John Hamilton

As very soon gave up attendance here necessary to say very little with respect to case.

And that the rather as while no doubt with respect to disease to which subjected had no proper opportunity of making any trials in way of practice.

For in short time, after application here gave up attendance.

From symptoms as introduced into register¹ no doubt that laboured under an intermittent fever

And from description is distinctly marked to have been of Tertian type.

This form indeed we are told had assumed only for short space before came under our care.

But for more than week before had been evidently subjected to febrile symptoms

This however a very common occurrence with intermittents of every form

Before assume regular type in general subsist for some time.

In this then nothing but what might reasonably have been expected.

But if conjecture of patient as to cause by which intermittent induced be well founded, this not the case

For according to account given us was consequence of influence of fear.

Apprehension viz of patient that in consequence of living in house with someone affected with venereal disease would be subjected to that complaint.

If in this respect conjectures of patient really well founded, must own is to me a very great singularity.

That indeed patient may have been under great apprehension from cause just mentioned do not doubt.

And that febrile diseases of different kinds, often consequence of passions of mind particularly fear attested by most accurate observers

Although therefore such I must own have not fallen under my own observations yet cannot consider them as singular

Where however fever referred to fear has for most part given rise to it in continual form.

And in almost every case of which I have read or heard has been effect of sudden fright.

This however was not case in present instance.

Is indeed true that apprehension of danger has been observed to render influence of other causes of disease, more powerful.

This alleged to have held not only with respect to plague, & smallpox, but also with highly infectious fevers

If thus increases power of contagion may also augment influence of marsh miasma.

And this by much most general cause of intermittent fever.

In this manner then if had any influence probably that operated.

At same time more probable that had no effect.

And that to be considered merely as one of ordinary [vernal] intermittents which although cause not obvious are commonly consequence of marsh effluvia.

With regard either to prognosis or practice in this case now unnecessary to say anything.

For in very short time after patient received in our list, as found himself unable to attend applied for admission into Infirmary².

And from thence is now dismissed cured the intermittent being removed by use of Peruvian Bark.

May only observe that after [prem] use of vomit was intention to have tried him with Pulveris Gallarum as a substitute of Peruvian Bark

And in order to obtain as far as possible those sensible qualities which bark [possesses] to this also conjoin a proportion of Cortex Cinnamon

By this meant to supply aromatic flavour of Bark, while Gallarum furnished astringency.

And in as far as virtues of Peruvian Bark, depend as some have supposed on astringent & aromatic conjoined, from these articles might have expected medical properties.

As however from desertion of patient no opportunity for trial afforded unnecessary to say anything farther with regard it.

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Explanatory notes:

1) References are made throughout the case notes to a dispensary patient register. However, no evidence has been found that this register survives.

2) The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, established in 1729.