DEP/DUA/1/40/41 (Normalised version)

Margaret Mitchell

1786

---

No3^d. October 27^th 1786

Margaret Mitchell at 25, of a pale complexion & dark hair, a married woman who has had two children, was exposed to venereal infection about two months ago. Two weeks after that she observed a small ulcer on the inside of her right thigh, & some time after, one on the verge of the anus, & a wart on the labium pudendi. These ulcers are healed up or at least much diminished but she is at present affected with pain in her throat & considerable difficulty in deglutition. On inspecting the fauces, there appears inflammation & slight ulceration on the skin of the palate & the tonsils, particularly the left. Externally on the fore part of the Trachea there is a swelling attended with stiffness but without pain. She has also a small soft tumour in her groin which commenced about two weeks ago. She is affected also with dullness of hearing in one ear, & complains of frequent inclination to vomiting.

Her appetite is impaired, & she sleeps ill in the night, Pulse 96 & small. Heat moderate but rather inclining to warm. Belly regular, urine when kept deposits a whitish sediment, but she has no difficulty or pain in discharging it.

These complaints the first symptoms of which appeared about six weeks ago, she ascribes to venereal contagion communicated by her husband. At the commencement of her disease she took a dose of glauber salts but she has used no mercury.

She enjoyed a good state of health before the present symptoms appeared.

Cap. Pil ex Opio gr V om. m. & o.

nec non Rx Infus. Ros

Mucil. G. Arab aa ℥ iii pro gargar.

November 3. Has no uneasiness from the pills. Symptoms much as before.

Cont. Med sed cap. Pil ex Opio grX bis indies.

November 10. Throat somewhat easier

But there is a considerable discharge from the ulcers at the verge of the anus.

Cont. Garg. & cap. Pil ex Opio gr X ter de die

November 18

Her throat continues easier although she has not employed the gargle for these eight days past. The sores below are more painful & discharge a considerable quantity of matter, but she does not think they are increased in size. She is not sensible of any effect from the pills excepting that she complains of a bad taste in her mouth. Belly very bound

She has only had one stool for these eight days past.

Cont. Pil ex Opio sed cap gr XV ter de die

Sumat etiam pro re nata. Pil ex Colocynth cum Aloe gr X [his] nec non Rx. Ungt. Saturn ℥i.

Opie ℥I ter opt sumat ut f.

Ungt. quo curentur p. affectae