DEP/DUA/1/20/01 (Transcript version)

Grizel Robertson

(1779)

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Grizel Robertson

Were we to attempt investig of name accord to nosol. syst should have consid diffic.

But none in ascert. cause or even nature of affect.

Sympt with which most distressd pain in region of stomach.

This would naturally lead us to look for it under genus of Gastrodyn or Cardial of Nosol.

And under each of these gener various species arising from diff causes are compreh

Here however could have little hesitat. in conclud that affect [illegible] for worms in intest.

That these pres. provd beyond all dispute by disch.

And while no reason for presum exist of any other cause well known that these give rise to such compl.

Accordingly under genus of Cardialgia of Mr Sauv. has mentiond as one species Cardialgia Verminosa

But has [commun] formula to sever. & according to all acct is nothing else but mixt of equal parts of Gamboge & Sal. Absinth.

To purgat therfore more than to Fern powdr which M. Nouffer employs some inclind to attrib effic of med.

Yet besides author of Dioscor. told in French public that worm sometimes completely disch before purgat taken.

And from exper. in one case at least am I own inclind to consider it as effic

And consid viewd pres. case as affording opportunit for farther trial & against a diff species from that for which formerly employd.

On this acct then after using for few days Pulv. Stanni in so small proport that employd only as [placeb] had recourse to Pulv. Filic.

As some may not be acquaintd with appear. have here brought specim of root.

And this rather as know that in some shops of apothec roots of other. female fern has been sold for male.

Which in Plants much more differ in nature than in name.

And indeed not even belonging to same species Genus among botan writers

For male fern as calld a species of Polypod. The Polyn. Filix Mas of Lin

While other Ferns belong to Acrostich & Osmunda

While directed Fern powder directed to extent of ℥p in morning purgat elect at same time prescr. to be begun two hours afterwards

Of this elect basis Crem of Tart with Jallap.

But added also other powerful artic recommended in purgat of M. Nouffer each to extent of gr V

From [illegible] [Filio] no uneasiness at stomach excited.

And cathart not taken to such ext as to operate much.

With repet of powder therfore led to alter at least the form of cathartic.

To ℥i [comp] powder of Jallap added Calom & Gamboge formr to extent of three latter of five gr.

Whole to be taken for dose

From this expected very consid evac.

And were not disappointed at least of obvious effect.

But although purgat had brisk opera yet fewer fragm of worm than before were disch.

Patient however remarked that these as came [away] seemd now to be totally void of motion or any other power of life.

Although still therfore reason to suspect that many retaind yet imag. that Pulv. [Filic] some influ as weakn vital powers.

This therefore led me with contin of same purgat to encrease dose to extent of ℥i.

When given in this dose had effect of prod sickness at stom.

Still however cathartic no more influence of bringing away worm although operated briskly.

And patient observd that now discov. very few fragm at any time.

From this then concluded that either incapab of answering purpose or that now very little remains of worm

While formr conclus. would have led have adopted other meas. yet on possib of latter resolvd to contin course for week longer.

Hence then at last report directed contin of Fern Powd & Purgat as before.

And in order to give still farther chance exhib to patient root of powdr dug up at diff part of country.

Whethr from this change or from any other circum have since last report been a good deal alarmd with this patient.

Receivd med on Wednesd. & on Thursd morning took first powder about 8 o’Clc

Felt as usual before some sickness at stomach but to no great degree.

About ten o’Clock took cathart in usual manner.

Had some business leading her out of doors which wishd to accompl. before should begin to operate.

In execut this a good deal exposed to cold & came home about an hour afterwards very sick at stomach

This succeeded by very severe vomits which excit most distress. headach & attended also with viol. catharsis.

Patient sent for me when in this situat in appreh. that would be immed cut off.

And alarm not a little augmented from observing that Fern powder of diff colour from what had formerly got.

During viol catharsis induced consid quantit of diff viscid slimy matter disch.

And from acct which she gave reason to think that a portion of the Taenia depend from anus broke off by fingers when by delay might have been comp disch.

For is a direct unif to be observed by patients that when any number of links of Taenia depend. should not employ any extern means but wait with patience till fully expelld by action of intest canal.

Before I could see patient, this not only broken off but both vomit & looseness [ceased]

On her own part however was so much appreh of return partic of vomiting that consid some meas to be necess.

And although some chance that from contin of catharsis worm might have been disch, yet from evac [partic] by vomiting had been so much exhaust. that reckond it more probab. to [illegible] it & to exhib cordial.

For this purpose had recourse to mixt with Elect Japon in Mint & Cinnam water

After began which was little affect either with vomit or looseness.

Had however but very indiff rest during succeding night

Still compl. much of sickness at stomach & pain of bowels.

But above all very much distressed with headach.

Imagind that some relief might be given to this by deriv to intest from cooling cathart

From this led to order dose of salts.

To this had addit inducement from hopes that if Taenia killd either by Fern powder of Gamb. or Merc. might thus be disch.

By operat of Glaub salt when last saw patient found headach & other symp somewhat relievd.

But during catharsis five small fragm only of Taenia brought away.

Look upon origin disease therfore as still remain to be cured.

And after sympt lately induced are abated, remains to say what meas with this view shall next prosecute

By viol of operat which has lately taken place former plan in some meas interrupt.

Is indeed by no means certain from what cause viol cathar & vomiting origin.

May have been affect of fern powder of cathartic, or of expos. to cold soon after taking it.

Or may have proceeded from some other circum of which are entirely ignor.

But as presumpt of being affects of med will lead us to try other meas for some time

And to these the rather led as Med of No not repres. as being certain cure for Taenia Solium.

Now prop omitting Fern powdr to have recourse to use of Camph.

Well known that while to certain extent at least safe to human body is powerfully delit to many of tribe of insects & worms.

And from being given in subst [activ] in form of bolus or pills may probab reach Taenia in active state.

To Camphor also the rather induced from headach with which patient of late affected

For well known of late in partic, in cases of most obstin headach has been by some pract found to be a very effect remedy.

If no inconven results from Camph. or no partic reason leads to change [shall] contin use for [six] or seven days without [interm]

And at end of that time with view of clearing intest canal, & partic disch worms if dead shall repeat Glaub salt as cathartic

If use of Camph during first week unsuccess may probab. employ it for second conj. with Assafet.

Giving also after it, in same manner as before a cathartic med.

Should disease resist these modes of cure wish here if can obt it to give trial to [spicul] cowhage or [Dolich] [prur].

These unquest most effect means of killing lumbrici

Effic in this respect long well known in West Indies has lately been ascert in Brit.

Do not however know any pract who has tried them either against any spec of Taenia.

Is however matter of doubt how far shall be able to procure them.

And if this not the case or if these not success, shall next have recourse to power of Tin Limatura [vil] Pulv. [Stan]

This long & much employd as a remed for worms of all kinds.

And from paper in Med Essays by Dr Alston will observe that undr partic managem. is repres as very certain cure both for expuls of Taenia & Cucurbit.

With regard to mode there mentiond may observe that effic in all probab. little connected with being given at [illegible] partic period of moon.

And perhaps also room for doubt as to Dr Alst. reasoning with regard to mechan action.

Yet great reason to believe that for obt. affects quantity he mentions necess.

Shall therefore exhib it in half ounce doses for three or four days.

Then give purgatives.

By some one or other of these means am in hopes that may be able to cure patient.

And perhaps have already pointed out more pract than [will] [have] opport of [trying]

Shall only then conclude with [obser] that if in this or other simil cases shall again employ Fern powder have thoughts on authort of [Diosc.] of pushing it to greatr extent than have hitherto done

Shall try exhib in doses of ℥p or Jii at short intervals through course of one day givin purgat the next morn

And if realy possess power ascribed to it, imagine that may thus be obt. with greatest safety & effic.