DEP/DUA/1/11/06 (Transcript version)

Elizabeth Anderson

(1776-1777)

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Elizs. Anderson.

A case also with regard to which have not receivd all inform could have wishd.

From want of regul. attend which might have expected.

If relat however to be depended upon little diffic respecting disease.

And all sympt. with which patient affected to be ascribd to worms in intest.

Here also as little doubt respecting kind of worm.

Can be no doubt question that are what gener. known by name of ascarides.

These although troublesome perhaps of all others give least danger. sympt

And although resist some remed, overcoming other kinds yet seldom so obstin as lumbr never so much so as Cucurb. or Tenia.

Hence in pres. case should I own be disposed to entertain fav. expectat.

That is if patient shall think it worth while to submitt to treatment.

But would seem that she herself consid compl. as not deserving much attent.

For although of three years standing has used no med.

And even now when can have med gratis would seem that does not reckon it necess to call for them.

Shall howevr breifly mention plan which would follow order were she more disp to follow direction.

In curing sympt. from worms in gener. two great obj to be had in view.

viz. killing the worms & expelling them from system.

May indeed seem that either one or other sufficient.

Could worms be effect killd, symptom before induced would cease.

And would then be subjected in bowels to same changes as other inanim [matter]

Yet as not subjected to any prev. [illegible] would afford putrid [forms] of more alkal. nature than usual alim.

Hence quick expuls. from system desired is at least [desir]

Not same objection indeed to expuls. without killing.

And could it be as easily affected perhaps preferable.

As by this means could avoid use of substances if not deliter. at least many of them naus. to human stomach.

While worms however remain alive in system would seem that exert powerful efforts for retain situat.

Hence even most viol purgat [effectually] evac other contents of intest, unable to disch. them.

Upon whole then easiest & most desirable method first to employ means either killing them or dimin vital power.

And then to have recourse to such remed as have tendency to evac them from system.

With these views many diff. remed employd against ascarid.

Of substances however having tendency to kill worms many whose nature entirely changed by action of alim canal.

Others in great measure taken up by absorbents through tract of intestines

And those passing through whole length of it, before reach extrem of rectum greatly diffused in other matters.

Hence in general med with this view taken by mouth can have little effect against ascarid.

As [these] seem to be princip. if not totally lodged about extrem of rectum.

On this acct. may in most instances be more affect done by inject. into rectum

In this manner of exhib however indeed are precluded from use of many substances.

Others however may be employd with equal safety as if taken by mouth.

Such for example as inject of oil. of decoct of Semen Santon & the like.

Probab. might also use in this manner celeb. anthelmint lately purchased by French King from Mad. Nouffer.

I mean powder of fern root.

Is intent first however to try pres. patient with oily inject altern. with brisk cathart

And these I hope may answer purp in view.