DEP/DUA/1/23/06 (Transcript version)

Nanny Gray

(1780)

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Nanny Gray.

Sympt. to which this patient at pres subj. such as occurr in many diff affect.

And in general not connected with each other.

Princip consist of pains attacking very diff parts of body.

Head Side Breast. Stomach &e

In these then cannot I imagine look for charact. of any one affect.

This however it may be alledged not the case with regard to princip part of affect to which subj

Pain viz of head.

This although much more severe at some times than at others, is yet in some degree const. & very much fixd to partic part.

May be expected therfore that should look for it under those genera charact. sympt of which is headach as Caephal. Cephalea. Hemicran &e

And perhaps as being an affect of chronic kind, without fever & not confind to partic side of head, may with more prop. get name of Cephalea than any other.

Under this denomin however affect of very diff nature compreh.

And for determ most prop. treatm, inquiry respecting this becomes necess

Here however when consider former ailm of patient little diffic.

For in history of case are informd, that was formerly subj to Hyster. occurring in most regul & distinct markd form.

That then was subjectd also to same headachs as it pres.

And that although other hysteric sympt for some time removed, yet this has contin.

Can have little doubt then in [cons] that pres headach of hyster. kind.

Especially when consider that heada so common a sympt in hyster as to have obt. even name of Clavus Hysteric

Although however consider it as being a hyster sympt yet in pres form perhaps denom from headach.

And consider it as more exactly [apply] to Cephalal Hysteric of Mr Sauv. than to any other disease.

From this view of name & nature cannot I appreh. look upon it as being a highly danger. affect.

For with regard to nervous affect in general may be observd that much more alarm than really danger.

And this partic the case with respect to hysteria

In many inst however proves very obstin.

And after contin which has already had, cannot I imagine look for sudden fav termin.

Yet to be observd, that upon whole, affect for some time past, has been upon the decline.

And has not hitherto at least resisted any powerful med.

For accord to acct given us none of late used.

And the rather hopes of success as since began med directed, affect consid abated.

Upon whole then flatter myself that may yet be able to dismiss patien if not free from compl, at least with sympt consid mitig

This I think in such a case as pres., cheifly to be expected from what are calld Nerv. med.

That is, from such artic whether of stimul or sedat nature, as have influ in counteract inordin affect of nervous power.

And indeed this cheifly effectd by strong & pecul action, either as Stim or Sedat.

To artic from either of these classes might I appreh. in inst. before us have had recourse with some probab of success.

And is in such inst as that before us this that immed relief often obt. from Volat Spt. to nose.

But still more from simil applic to affected nerves.

Such for example as Wards Volat essence – Aether or like.

But if these often of advant still more certain & perman. relief from sedativ.

And that both from immed [applic] & likewise from action on Nerv Sys in gener.

Thus in many such inst very great relief from Laud.

But in [prefer] to all these here recourse to a sedat. from of which must own have very high opin.

That is the Extr. of Hyocsiam. or Henbane.

Need not observe that this one of those artic lately added to the Pharmacop. Mat. Med. by Dr [Stork] of Vienna.

That influence of this artic on anim syst. very consid. might with confid be inferrd, from its having been very gener rankd among poisons.

This you will find the charact given of it by diff writers.

Partic by Sir. Rob Sibbald in his Scotia illustrata.

Even in his writings however, repres as applic to useful purpos, & partic from narcotic powers.

By experim & trials however of Dr [Sto] more gener. introd into pract.

And although has not answered expectat of all who have used it, yet for my own part, cannot help thinking that have found it prod of best effects.

Effects more nearly those of Opium than any other artic with which am acquainted.

Yet still hold it to be very pecul narcot.

And often applic where opium cannot with prop. be employd.

Partic as has rather effect of open than of binding belly.

In sever inst, simil to pres, have I think seen it prod of best effects.

And from what has already occurd in pres case, am led to hope that may furnish with another example of effic.

If pains shall contin [much] relievd while at same time disch by belly regul, have thoughts of conjoining with hyosciam [some] Peruv. Bark.

And from thus securing advant, may be soon in condit to be dismissd.