DEP/DUA/1/24/10 (Transcript version)

George Gordon

(1780-1781)

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George Gordon

Of disease to which this patient subj after what said of some others now unnecss. to make many remarks.

Here as in sever. other cases prin sympt. cough, dysp. & pain of breast

And these attended with expect of consid quantity of viscid mucus.

Not however without diffic

In [other] cases with nearly simil sympt of which have already [treated] of, not only last, [last] those also of.

And not only in case last treated of

Hastie & Ainslie could not form very determ opin.

From diff circum however was led to give it as opin, that in one inst of Phthis, in anoth of Dropsic & in third of Catarrh. affect.

Have selected pres. case as afford example of affect. where no room for doubt.

Exhibits distinct markd instance of what may be commonly calld catarh Senil.

But which when consid that not pecul. to age may with greater prop. be termd Chron. Catarrh.

Here no doubt I think that both dysp. & cough the effect of viscid mucus accumul in breast.

And although did not suspect any partic cause of affect. yet when consider period of attack probab. that affect of cold.

This if not only is at least by much most common cause of such affect.

And accord. nothing more freq than to find disease in great meas. disapp. during summer & again return on cold weather.

With pres patient however accord to acct. given, pres is first or at least most consid attack.

As to termin when consid all circum of case not without appreh.

Disease exist with consid degree of severity.

Has already contin for space of month during which time has been much aggrav.

But of all circum what most against patient is debilit habit & advan. period of life.

In this condit, inst every day occurr of patients cutt by suffoc from mucus.

And should not be much surpr. were such event to take place with pres patient.

At same time not uncommon to find patient long subj to same sympt to much more consid degree.

And by proper aid reason to hope that affect if not removed may at least be allev.

In obtaining this accord to idea of nature of affect must be great obj. to disch mucus already accum

An end which as already observd perhaps more effect. obt. by emetic than any other means.

With a patient however so far advanced in life as pres to gener. concuss which occas. some object.

Hence then advis, to try at first at least easier means of prom. disch.

And at same time to conjoin such as from dimin determ to lungs have tend to dimin secret.

Of meas for this purpose few more effect than applic of blistr.

Partic if disch aftwards supp under form of issue.

But same end may also be obtaind by other & these more gentle meas.

And especially by determ either to intest canal or to surface.

Hence the advant of gentle laxat or natur looseness when does not [run] to any great height.

Hence also advant from summer weather, tempr. clim, prop. cloath &e.

Is upon these princip then that to look explain intent in pract which have here employd or which at pres in view for this patient

Began by direct. elect. of sulph & cream of Tart.

This will readily suppose was intended as gentle laxative.

And not so much employd with view of obviat cost. as of giving [som] determin to intest canal.

Am acquainted with few cathart more gentle in effects & at same time more cert in operat than either of these

And if benef singly often advant from combin.

Partic where cream of tart by itself apt to gripe.

This effect often very compl. [corres] by sulphur.

While again purgat power of Crem of Tart Sulph [briskned] by sulph Crem of Tart

Accord elect. of equal parts of these formd by syrup a very comm prescr in diff cases.

On pres. occas. the rather induced to it as from sulph. alone patient had formerly derivd benef.

But besides this at comm. of trial had recourse also to anoth remedy from which expected still greater adv.

That was solut of Gum Ammon.

Need not observe that G. Ammon which like other foetid Gums as have been calld, partakes more of resin than gummy nature long held in esteem as expect.

And although some disp. entirely to deny such operat, yet for my own part no doubt that active artic may be collected at [excret] by lungs as well as those of kidneys, saliv. gla or like.

While at same time exper. observ of pract of all ages as well as daily exper. demonst, power of this artic as facil. expect.

May be obj indeed to use in such cases that unfav as augm secret.

But this more than counterbal. by encreas stim to excret.

As in conseq of more exped disch. never [illegible] that viscid on which, [sever] of cough & dysp. depend.

With Gum Ammon in state of solut. here conj Squill vineg.

An artic from which am inclind to think same effect to be expected.

And to these with view rather of oper. as corrig. cover taste & obv. naus. than with any other intent added Syr. Diacod.

Under these med whether idea as to operat well founded or not patiens compl at first very consid allev.

And can I think have little doubt in attrib to one effect of keeping belly gently open to other that of prom more free expect.

Compl. it is true at last report were said to be again somwhat [illegible]

Yet while disp to attrib. this to some accid expos to cold am in hopes that by contin of med may again be allev.

And that by persist in this course may obt as much relief as at this season of year & with such adv age to be expected.

If however insuff for relief may have recourse to squills to greater extent to blist. issues & emetic.

In these howver to be directed by circum after pres trial.

Consid of next case delay till [Sat] lect

And in place of deliv on Sat. next at usual hour hope it will not be inconv. for you to fav. me with a meeting on Friday next at 7 o’Clock