DEP/DUA/1/42/47 (Normalised version)

John Hume

(1787-1788)

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John Hume at 15.

Of case of this patient little to add to what before observed.

Was as then remarked an evident example of Hydrocephalus of chronic kind from water within Cranium.

But whether between cranium & brain, or within ventricle of brain itself, cannot pretend to say.

For water sometimes in one situation sometimes in another.

But wherever situated disease [equally] difficult to overcome.

At least as far as my own experience & observation goes have met with no instance of this affection from which recovery after disease distinctly marked to have occurred.

Hence reckon it more certainly fatal than even acute hydrocephalus

For in that affection have I think seen some instances of convalescence both by aid of medicine & by operation of nature.

But in this probable that before any considerable obvious enlargement of head has taken place texture of brain very much injured

And indeed in some instances as appears from dissection is almost totally obliterated.

But if disease thus generally fatal had no reason to entertain uncommonly favourable hopes in present instance.

For every circumstance rather unfavourable than otherwise.

Disease had subsisted with infant even from birth

And had arisen to such height as not only to give very considerable enlargement but also to induce idiotism.

Had therefore attendance been continued entertained no expectation of doing service.

But as suspected by what fell from mother, from little expectation that could give her of recovery very soon deserted us.

Hence no opportunity of trying either mercurial course which had directed or electricity to which afterwards proposed to have recourse.

Must indeed acknowledge that consider neither one nor other as adequate to cure of this case.

But am inclined to think that in both powerful means of increasing [absorption].

And no room to doubt that lymph absorption arises from brain as well as from other parts.

While is I apprehend alone from absence by natural outlets that even most distant prospect of cure can be entertained.

Water indeed can in this case by easy operation be immediately [abstained].

But where this tried very generally immediate consequence fatal convulsions.

And as far as I know, no instance on record of cure.

While in many has certainly precipitated fatal termination a circumstance always to be avoided.

Will not pretend to say, that this may not have been consequence of Mercury even of Electricity.

But at least no facts by which this demonstrated.

And may have had opportunity of seeing whether either one or other any influence as promoting absorption from cranium.

And if this found to be case, [although] no cure might yet have been of some use in practice.