DEP/DUA/1/29/43 (Normalised version)

James Young

(1782)

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James Young.

With regard to case of this patient must own am very much at a loss.

And have not before in my own practice met with any similar instance.

Affection consists almost entirely in one symptom.

viz peculiar & severe thirst.

At least of all complaints this the most distressing.

And highly probable that other symptoms as want of sleep, weakness, weariness & the like are merely consequences of thirst.

Thirst every day occurs as symptom of other affections.

And in fever, dropsy, diabetes & like often one of most distressing.

For when occurs to any great degree always in intolerable sensations.

But besides being symptom, sometimes also considered to occur as an idiopathic affection.

Accordingly in systems of Sauvages Sagar & others genus formed of Polydipsia.

This however represented as being a very rare occurrence.

And indeed has [appeared] so much so to Dr Cullen that has not given it place in his system.

In my own practice, present only case in which had any reason to suspect such an affection

And by no means improbable that here symptom of some circumstances which has escaped observation.

As hitherto however have not been able to [detect] this, endeavours directed to mitigate the affection itself.

Sensation of thirst, in general immediately arises, either from state of mouth & fauces, or of stomach.

And depends on want of due [secretion] at either place.

Here from moist appearance no reason to suspect that former concerned.

Became object therefore to increase secretion in latter.

And is with this intention that have had recourse to Cream Tartar.

From which among other effects very considerable influence as increasing flow of water by excretion, both into mouth & stomach.

While at same time has very powerful influence as allaying in stomach sense of heat, with which thirst often connected.

Under this medicine has now continued for space of some weeks.

And although no very remarkable change for better yet affection upon whole diminished.

Is therefore, if circumstances shall continue [easy], intention to persist in it till at least shall know something farther as to nature of affection.

May however during that period be necessary to vary form.

And may either combine it with some other article of refrigerant tribe as nitre or give it perhaps in fluid state.

But in these particulars, conduct will be entirely regulated by circumstances & occurrences.