DEP/DUA/1/42/46 (Normalised version)

John Hume

1787

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N^o11^th. November 20^th 1787.

John Hume at 15, appears to have his cranium much enlarged. It measures twenty inches in circumference. And the bones particularly at the fontanelle & in the course of the coronal & sagittal sutures, are considerably separated from each other. He seems to be incapable of distinguishing any objects around him & is frequently affected with very violent fits of crying, which begin suddenly & without any apparent cause often even during his sleep. He has often uncommon coldness of his lower extremities. Pulse very frequent, Belly costive, Much thirst, appetite good. He is at present suckled by his mother, & takes the breast with great avidity.

He has in some degree been affected with these symptoms from the time of birth, his head having then appeared larger than natural. But the size seems to have increased much of late & the cryings have been more frequent.

His mother knows no cause to which these complaints can be attributed. But she says that a brother of hers died from water in his head when about two years old. She has fomented his head for upwards of a month with spirits but without the least benefit. She has also given him a few purgative medicines which have moved his belly, but produced no change upon his complaint.

Rx. Calomel. gr i.

Sach. Alv. gr x. M

cap. dos. om. m. nec non [inung]

crurib. Ungt. Merc. ʒ p. om. m.