DEP/DUA/1/44/32 (Normalised version)

John Boyd

1788

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N^o7^th November 4^th. 1788

John Boyd at 40, has the whole surface of his body but particularly the lower extremities affected with a colourless swelling, which bears the impression of the finger on pressure. The abdomen is also somewhat distended & has an evident fluctuation. He complains also of much uneasiness from flatulence & from distension of his stomach after meals. He is most uneasy when lying in an horizontal posture & from this circumstance sleeps ill in the night.

His urine is not diminished in quantity, & at present he has no thirst, but when he was first attacked this was so urgent as to make him drink large quantities of small beer & water. Pulse rather feeble, Belly costive, Tongue clean. Appetite pretty good.

These complaints first began about three weeks ago, & he attributes them to cold, to which from his manner of life he is much exposed. He has taken a dose of salts but without relief.

Cap Pulv. Ipecac ℈i. pro Emet nec non sumat bis indies Pulv Crem Tart. coch parv.

8

The vomit operated well & the powders have moved his belly a little. Urine free & he thinks the swellings rather diminished.

Rep. Emet. & Cont. Pulv. Crem Tart. sed cap coch parv. duo ter de die.

November 15

The vomit operated well & his powders in general produce two or three loose stools daily. But he thinks that the quantity of his urine is rather diminished, & the swellings are somewhat increased, particularly in his scrotum after an erect posture

15.

Pulse about 100 & small with some dyspnoea.

Cont. Pulv. Crem Tart. u. a. & bib indies Infus. Junip. Lb. ii. partit. Vicib.

December. 20

Has been confined to the house almost constantly since the last report & has taken almost none of his medicines since that time. His swellings are very much increased & he is much affected with Dyspnoea.

Cont. Infus. Junip. U. a. &

Rx. Calomel. gr XII

Rulv. Rad Scillae

Sap. Alb. Hisp. aa ʒ p.

Syr Simp. g. s. f. mas [dividin]

pil. XXIV cap. i. om. m. & vesp.