DEP/DUA/1/45/19 (Normalised version)

James Gordon

1788

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N^o18. December. 9^th 1788

James Gordon at 30 complains of constant pain in the left breast attended with great dyspnoea. These symptoms are in general aggravated when he is in a recumbent posture. He says that every evening about six o’Clock he perceives a swelling in the Epigastric region. At that time his dyspnoea comes on most violently & continues till about twelve at night, when he is generally relieved by a discharge of flatus or by a stool. His legs swell at night & retain the impression of the finger but his urine he says is not diminished in quantity.

Pulse regular. Belly very costive, appetite bad; he sleeps well after the paroxysm of dyspnoea.

These complaints first came on about a year ago. But he says they have been much worse of late, since the commencement of the cold weather.

He knows no cause to which he can attribute his present symptoms. He has applied a blister to his sternum & used some pills but without relief.

Cap. Pil. Foetid cum Aloe gr V om m. & vesp.

14

Had a very great discharge of flatus after beginning the use of the pills, & was for some nights considerably easier. But his dyspnoea returned with great severity last night & is still very distressing.

Cont. Pil. Foetid. u. a.

nec non Rx Spt. Aether. Vitriol ʒ ii

Tinct. Theb. ʒi.

Mucil. G. Arab.

Ag. Font. aa ℥ iii. M cap. ℥ p. bis indies & repet. urgent. parox.