DEP/DUA/1/37/13 (Normalised version)

Elizabeth McDonald

1785

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N^o28. 8^th January 1785

Elizabeth McDonald at 40 is troubled with excessive pains all over her body. These pains begin in her head & from thence pass down her neck to her shoulders from which they are propagated down both arms to the joints of her fingers. She complains also of a fixed pain in her left side immediately below the false ribs. Her legs likewise are often affected & at times much swelled.

During the night she is very restless & is often seized with coldness & shivering which however are not succeeded by a hot or sweating stage. The parts most affected with the pains are her head shoulders & arms & [there] they are at times most excruciating.

Appetite much impaired. Belly very bound. Catamenia regular & in due quantity. Pulse about 70

About three weeks ago her present complaints first appeared.

They began with pain in her head & the other symptoms have since supervened gradually. She knows no cause for her complaint & has used no other medicine but a vomit.

Cap. Pil. Foetid. cum Aloe gr V om. m. & vesp.

15 The pills have in general had the effect of giving her two stools in the day but her pains are still very severe.

Cont. dos matut. Pil. Foetid cum aloe & cap. om. n. [hora] somni Pil. Theb. grX

22. The foetid pills keep her belly rather loose, & she sleeps little in the night notwithstanding the Pill Thebaic & she complains much of headache although the pains in other parts of her body are almost gone.

Interm Pil. Foetid – Cont. Pil. Theb. & app. vesic inter scap.

29. There was little discharge from the blister & the pains of her head & shoulders continue as severe as before

Interm. Pil. Theb. &

Rx. Ext. Hyosciam gr XXIV

Sapon Hispan. ℥i. f mas divid

in nil. XXIV cap. pil. [s]. bis indies nec non

habeat Bals. Anod ℥i. illin. paux

p. app. dol.

February 5 Has taken the pills as directed & her head is now much easier, but she still complains of the pains about her shoulders. Appetite good. Belly rather loose & she has slept well during the night ever since she has used the pills. Cont Pil ex

Hyosciam & Linim. Anod. u. a.

12. Has continued the pills & her headache is much easier. But she still complains of the pains of her shoulders. Belly bound. Interm

Pil ex Hyosciam – Cont. Linim Anod

& cap allern quag. nocte Pil. Aloet

gr V