DEP/DUA/1/12/06 (Transcript version)

Grizel Craig

(1776-1777)

---

Grizel Craig.

A patient last summer under care in Royal Infirm.

Compl. then in some respects diff. from what are at pres.

At that time affected with no inconsid dropsic. compl.

Then however also subj to compl. for which at pres. came under care viz Ammen.

For little hesit in consid this to be princip part of patients disease.

Was however as have just observd an attend of formr affect.

And at that time disposed to consider too as not unconnected

Then I own inclind to believe that the obst of menses cause of dropsic affections.

And that from this circum dropsy would probab. be more obstin.

How far affect really connected may yet perhaps matter of doubt.

But dropsy in no long time entirely removd

And as I appreh in good measure from affect of elater a med of which had lately occas to speak.

After dropsy removd did nothing for restor. of menses but by endeav to strengthen system.

And as meas used in house with this view ineffec. thought it improp. to keep her longer in the hospit.

Was dismissed therefore in hopes that health flux might be restored by still farther recov in [count]

And by more regul exercise & freer air than to be had in an hospit.

Now appears however that these also insuff for purpose.

And besides this had for some months ind many diff med.

Which although such as might readily have been supposed most serviceable yet ineffect.

In this situat again came under care.

To be observd howevr that at this time as formerly Ammen. not only compl.

Had for some weeks been affected with troublesome cough accomp. with diffic & scanty expect.

This ascribd probab. with justice to accid cold

And may be consid as totally unconnected with Ammen

Menst. evac now wanting about 20 months

And had little hesitat in referring to this impaird appetite listlessness oppress at praecord. & headach of which patient compl.

Was I own disp. from first view of this case to form diff. ideas of what would be termin.

In catarrhal affection unless from contin saw nothing of threatning appear.

Hoped therefore that might soon be removd or even of itself cease.

Ammen howevr conject would be more obstin.

And as had already resisted several of most powerful remed had I own but little hopes of cure.

This therefore consid to be great obj. of attent in practice.

Now concluded that renewal of disch not to be lookd for from restor of gener. health.

For patient now no sympt of dropsic tend. or marks of innanit.

On contrary affectd with sympt of fullness at menst. period.

And from these had often obt. releif by bleeding.

Concluded therfore that want of due accum in uterus not wanting.

Suspected indeed that might proceed from obstr. in passages through which ought to pass.

But if of this kind could not depend on slight or transit cause ex Spas. affection.

And if from fixd local cause could not look for removal.

Concluded therefore that cheif hopes of recov. from restorat of that action of uterus which suppose necess. to menst. evac.

And with this view resolvd to make pres. case subj of trial of electric.

A remed in many of most obstin cases lately found success.

And operat of which is I appreh. totally to be referred to action on living fibre.

Well known how much does in restoring sensib & power of motion to othr parts.

May therefore restore menst flux in two wy ways

Either by immed acting on moving fibres as inducing that contract which suppose necess.

Or by restor capab. of action at regul. period.

In former case cure inst affect of [operat]

In latter will not occurr till some time.

Somtimes even after electricity intermittd.

On these general prin then resolvd to give it full trial in pres. case

And while persisted in use grad. to encrease both number & strength of shocks.

Flow of menses did not here appear on first exhib of electricity

Although in hopes of exciting immed action had directed that shocks should pass through region of uterus.

In this however was not I own much disappointd

For after so long obst. though might have taken place yet was hardly to be expected.

Resolvd therefore still to persist in use.

But in this unexpectedly interrup from an accid to our machine.

And after patient [three] electrif. had it not in our power to exhib it farther.

Directed however cont of electric in hopes of having machine soon mended.

And that might not in mean time seem inactive ordered have an ounce of El. Sacr. or as now calld Elix ex Al & Rheo.

This med cont without the electr. for four nights

At end of that time menses appeard.

As she imagind from med then taken.

But when consider that not to be viewd as of very active powers & that never even operated as prod purging little reason for suppos. that was capab. of remov. an inst so obstin.

And must own that should rather be inclind to ascribe it to preceding electri.

For where no other med used cases [affctd] by electri on some occas have not taken place till few days after interm.

Consider therefore electric in this inst as having restored dispos to action of uterus.

Flow happening at period when this action as regul. by laws of Nerv. syst. natur occurrd.

Would not howevr pretend to alledge that elix. had no influence.

From action on intest partic rectum may have had some share as inducing & supporting discharge

Although can by no means imagine it capab. of remov. obst. which has subst for so long a period & had before resisted inf. of most active med.

Especially when consider small extent to which was here given.

Even admitting this reasoning however affords no certain proof of its being affect of electr.

By no means impossible that restorat may have depended on circum totally diff.

With which patient herself either unacquainted

Or at least of which did not [choose] to inform us.

Cannot therfore pretend to speak in very pos. mannr

Yet from all circum taken together must imagn that restorat of menst disch was affect of Electr.

Consid have proceded from this source next occurrs as quest of some import. how far can look upon it as radic cure.

Whether viz necess. to do nothing farther for secur. regular of menses.

Or whether can be consid as obt only for single period.

Must own that with respect to this partic extremely doubtful.

Rather however disp. to hope favourable as otherwise

Was intent therfore, without doing any thing farther with view to menses to wait till usual term of disch.

And if then appear will consid nothing farther as necessary.

If do not shall again have recourse to Elect.

And prosecute plan which at first intended.

If induces disch a second time shall be contented with directing repetit for a day or two prev to period when menses expected.

And hope that such a measure may prove affect in securing regular.

If electric entirely fails may yet expect that disch. may at times occur

Yet must own will have little hope that shall ever become regular

At same time other emmenagogues which may yet be tried.

And with this view shall probab. put patient on use of the Rubia.

Failing that may have recourse to trial of Tinct of Black Helleb.

Pushing to as great extent as think can be done with safety or prud.