DEP/DUA/1/39/37 (Normalised version)

Helen Spalding

1786

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N^o36. February 17^th 1786

Helen Spalding at 58 a widow of a weakly habit & sickly countenance, is affected with a colourless inelastic swelling retaining the mark of the finger on pressure. It extends in some degree over her whole body, but particularly about the lower part of the abdomen, the superior & inferior extremities which last feel remarkably colder than natural & the swellings of which are always increased towards evening. She complains of a dry short cough, especially in the night & of dyspnoea in the horizontal posture. She has some pain about the middle of the breast when she coughs but has no sense of stricture there

She has no frightful dreams nor startings on falling asleep.

She is much troubled with flatulence. Pulse rather under 60 but pretty full & regular. Tongue clean. Thirst now natural, formerly however very great. Belly very costive. Urine turbid & whitish Catamenia ceased about six years ago, after a flooding which debilitated her excessively. She first observed the swellings about ten days ago. But from their size, they would seem to have begun at an earlier period. She imputes them to cold & moisture to which she has been for some time exposed. None of her relations were subject to dropsy.

She has used no medicines.

Cap. Vin Nicot. [gr]. XX bis indies ex Ag. Cyath.

25. Has sometimes slight sickness after the Vinum Nicotiana.

But since she began the drops her urine is much augmented & her swellings in general fuller

She is also less affected with the Dyspnoea. But her cough is still very severe & the swelling of her legs is rather increased. Belly natural. Pulse 64. & of moderate strength

Cont. Vin Niccot. u. a. & sumat bis in septimana Pulv. Ipecac Ji. pro Emet. & Rx. Ol. Camph. ℥ii. Spt. Corn. Cerv. ℥ii M. Affric paux. [ulrog] crur. om. m. h. s.

March 4^th The vomits operated well. She has used the friction for her legs & continued the Vinum Nicotinae without any sickness.

Her urine is very much increased the swellings are almost entirely gone & she is quite free both from the cough & dyspnoea.

Cont Vin. Nicot. & Rx. Pulv. Cort. Querc. ℥i.

Cont Cassiae ℥i M cap coch parv. bis indies.

Is entirely free from the swelling & in other respects in good health.

Let her be Dismissed.