DEP/DUA/1/31/15 (Normalised version)

Alexander Burr

(1782-1783)

---

XXI

Alexander Burr at 60 complains of cough, dyspnoea & a tightness about the precordia when he goes up an ascent. He expectorates a considerable quantity of viscid matter

His cough is sometimes troublesome in the night & induces a pain in the head just above the left eye, which prevents him from sleeping. He is sometimes affected with sickness & [wishes] to vomit but this action rarely takes place

When it does he throws up some sour & bitter matter. He is sometimes troubled with flatulence but not in any considerable degree & it generally passes downwards

He has been much troubled for some time with a pain in his tongue & the left side of it is now redder than natural its middle whitish. Pulse about 100 soft & full. Belly regular appetite indifferent. No thirst. He has been long troubled with Catarrhal complaints which have been always easier in the summer. The affection of his tongue began about five or six months ago in the form of a blister which ulcerated, & continued very painful till last week when he used a mixture of vitriolic acid as a gargle since which he has been easier

He also last week took a scruple¹ of Ipecacuanha for a vomit, which was near an hour before it began to operate, but it then operated well & brought off some thick defluxion & eased the pain of his breast.

Cap. Pulv. Ipecac ℥p. pro Emet. Sumat om. noct. Pil.

Scillit gr V & Rx. Acid. Vitriol

Gt XX Ag. Font. ℥VI M utat pro gargar.

December 21. The vomit operated little but his cough & headache are easier

The affection of his tongue is now considerably better & he has but little pain from it.

Cont. Pil. Scillit & gargarm u. a.

January 4^th The affection of his tongue is almost entirely gone but he is still affected with cough & viscid expectoration

Interm Mist Cont. Pil Scill & Cap. Pulv. Ipecac Ji pro. Emet

18 The vomit operated but little & he thinks the cough rather aggravated, but the affection of his tongue is almost entirely gone although he is still at times attacked with pain in it.

Cont. Pil. Scillit & ap. vesic inter scap.

February 1. There was a considerable discharge from the blister, but his cough still continues to be very severe, & he still complains of being affected with acute pain in his tongue, although there is very little obvious disease.

Cap. Pil. Scillit gr X om. m.  nec non Rx. Flor. Sulp. Pulv. Crem Tart. aa ℥i. Syr. Simp. g. s. f. Elect [cujus] cap. mol. [nuc] mosen. om. m.

8. Dismissed free from most of his complaints.

---

Explanatory notes:

1) A unit of weight equal to 20 grains, used by apothecaries and physicians.