DEP/DUA/1/38/36 (Normalised version)

May Pinkerton

1786

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March 4^th 1786.

N^o37. May Pinkerton at 33 married.

Subjected to fits, which are I think decidedly marked of epileptic kind

This evinced not only by appearance in fits themselves but also by symptoms which [precede] & follow them.

Here however some doubt whether of Idiopathic or Symptomatic kind.

That is whether cause of irritation by which inordinate action excited & affection of mental faculties produced is in brain, or only has influence [prop] to it from some distant part.

My doubts & conjecture on this subject however shall afterwards have occasion to state, when come to treat of case at more length.

May here only observe that viewing it as case of Epilepsy can have no sanguine expectation of cure.

For at least as far as my own experience goes, a great majority of cases [incurable] by any remedy with which yet acquainted.

At same time have met with not a few instances which yielded during use of remedy.

And am much deceived if this did not take place as affect of these

And particularly have met with some instances of recovery both from calx of Zinc & Cuprum Ammoniala.

No longer ago than yesterday met with patient William Nimmo whom treated with Cuprum Ammoniala about 2 years ago.

Became so well that dismissed

And tells me that not slightest return of fits since though now more than 18 months.

To this consideration recourse in present instance

And hope here also [successful]