DEP/DUA/1/25/10 (Transcript version)

Elizabeth Aikman

(1780-1781)

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Elizr. Aikman.

Disease obvious.

And not without analogy at least to some already consid

From hist. may vent to assert that only compl to which subj a cutan disease

What in this country not merly among vulg but even among [pract] would get name of scorbut.

An appellat however very improp as conf. pres with a disease in nature essent diff, scorbut or sea Scr

As already oftener than once obser all affect of pres kind either either to be termd lep & herpet.

And here in inst before us would employ former appellat

To this led from progr & appear

Is under form of dry scaly spots of very consid size

And although these often fall off yet succeeded by others [without] any manif disch.

From these circum then consid it as entit to appelat of Lep. rather than Herpetic.

A circum at least in some degree affect prognos.

For although not unfreq transit from one to other yet under pres form most obstin.

In case before us however this not only circum lead to unfav [judg].

Patient now subj to affect for very consid length of time

No less than period of 8 years [since] first attack.

Has indeed since that period attack at diff times yielded to med.

But these would appear never able to eradic affect from constit

For has always again returnd & at pres. with no less viol than before

May concl. more diffic to remove, from commen at very early period of life

An indicat that more constit than acquird

Unfav also that not conf. to [partic] part.

For with success & enlargm of incrust extended over whole surface of body.

[Most] consid inded on extrem.

But other parts not exempted.

And if not depend on condit of fluids, may at least consid her as having gener affect of cutan vessels.

From all these circum then entert but little hopes of compl. cure

And if does happen presumpt that will rather be effect of some very consid change as [patient] pregn nursing or like than of change of med. employ.

Or may be conseq of change of situat & manner of life.

At same time if from these circum chance of recov may on other hand be means even of aggr.

But while [thus] appreh of obstin do not consid disease as danger.

Not indeed that from such affect constit is not sometimes entirely [broke]

And gener. each ex, termin in fatal dropsy induced.

This by way may observe not less freq conseq of means empl. for cure, than of disease itself.

And partic from long contin use of mercur. med.

But with pres patient, no [superveen] affect yet to be appreh.

And although, in all long subj to it yet pres attack but of short date.

For space viz of few weeks.

Cannot therefore consid patient as at pres in any danger.

And even ground to hope that as on former occas tempor. mitig or rather susp of affect may be obt.

The more to be expected from app. progr. already made in cure.

For since treatm begun appear very much dimin.

Erupt less extended than it was at first.

Few if any fresh spots have appearr

Those before suff grad enlargem, now consid dimin

And upon whole appear very much changed for better

In place of dry white scales now much softer, & of that red appear, which must for some time precede return to natural state.

These fav changes whethr progr contin or not, can I think have little doubt in referr. to mode of cure here empl.

And of this after what said of same remed in other cases nothing need now be added.

Only artic here employd the vitriol acid.

A remed of introd of which [agains] cutan affect have already spoken

Here however from obstin of case expectat I own not great.

And although in some others equally extens & unfav have before tried it without effect, yet should not have been disapp if had faild.

And would not have been disp to consider it as evid of ineffic of med

When however to be tried wishd for full & fair trial.

And that rathr from due appl for prop length of time than by large quant at once.

But to obt full affect without inconven orderd applic both extern & internal.

In formr way used Ungt Vitriol.

A combin of vitriol acid with Hogs Lard to extent of ʒi to ℥i.

In this state in gener. so much activ. as to give at least obv. sense of heat.

Seldom however excor. blister or [part] on sound skin.

Expected therefore without inconven full benef of extern applic.

Intern employd in form of Mist Vitr viz quantity of ʒi of Acid to ℥i of [illegible]

This given to extent of ʒi for dose diluted in glass of water twice a day

A quantity to which seldom [obvious] operat

Or when does operate no other [affect] than that of encreas. disch of urine.

Under this course no inconven nor indeed any obv operat.

While howevr erupt. so much changed for better, shall not think of alter course.

And will neither order more freq repetit of internal med, nor [illegible] strength of oint.

Am in hopes that by prop. contin in pres plan tempor. [suspen] may be prod.

And if that case shall look upon it as striking exampl of effec of med.

Still howevr dare not venture to pron it radic cure.

But some hopes that advant may be secured by direct sea bathin

And as soon as season will perm have in view the direct this even in conjunct with pres course

If ineffect [many] other remed may be tried.

And of these too some the [further] effects of which of import to witness

Such for exam as Decoct. [Ultim] Inf of [illegible] Veratum &e.

If trial of any of these howevr necess must be determ by circum at the time.