DEP/DUA/1/12/25 (Transcript version)

Margaret Whately

(1776-1777)

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Margaret Whately.

Case of this patient does not afford room for many remarks either with respect to nature of the dis. or practice.

From acct. indeed at first given by patient might have entert some doubt respect. nature

Was repres as princip a period pain.

And that too not affecting stomach but bowels

For although struck to region of kidney & even remaind fixed there for some time yet could have no suspic of local affect

Evid did not origin there.

And besides no affection of urine.

Was then even from first disposed to look upon it as depend on flatul & stom

But consid this [atonic] state as more an affect of duodenum than stomach.

And was on this ground that disposed to explain absence of cardial. vomiting & other sympt of Dyspepsia.

Of which no mention made in history of case as given by our patient when first came under care.

But whethr she had not at first been suff partic or whethr other sympt had afterwards superveend do not know, but at very first report however found that princip part of comp vomiting & [soreness] at stomach.

And from after appearance in case could have little doubt in pronouncing it to be princip a stomach ailment.

Did not indeed in every circum exactly correspond to definit of Dyspepsia.

Had howevr no hesitat in considering & treating it as princip of that nature.

No circum in history of this case which could lead us to consider patient as in a danger. situat

Yet must own was suspicious that compl. might prove tedious.

Patient a female a female & therfore less disposed to take much exercise out of doors which I own am disposed inclind to consider as most effect. means of cure.

Besides this compl. had already been of some months duration

And was advanced at period of life when affections are not in general most speedily overcome.

Event of case howevr in some measure exceeded expectation.

For in no long time sympt so much allev that at her own desire we [agreed] [that] her attend should be discont.

Must howevr observe that far from [consid] her as what may be calld radic cured.

For on slightest irregul will probab. [again] have recurrence of affections.

And indeed as far as our treatmnt [went] was intended rathr to obv pres. affection than to remove cause.

Objects at which here princip aimd was not so much restoring tone as expulsion of wind, prevent of constip, & destr. of acid.

With two first intent used Pil. Gum

With last had recourse to Magnes.

And in objects aimd at from these were not disappointd.

For although progress to recovery not unif. yet sympt in short time almost totally removed.

After this should probab. [have] thought of putting patient on gentle tonic for some time.

But as she herself desirous of [discont] attend, while [should] remain thus easy, [comp] with her desire