DEP/DUA/1/26/16 (Transcript version)

John Hamilton

(1780)

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John Hamilton

As very soon gave up attend here necess to say very little with respect to case.

And that the rather as while no doubt with respect to disease to which subj. had no prop opport of making any trials in way of pract.

For in short time, after applic here gave up attendance.

From sympt as introd into register no doubt that lab. under an interm fever

And from descript is distinctly markd to have been of Tert. type.

This form indeed we are told had assumed only for short space before came under our care.

But for more than week before had been evid subj to febrile symp

This however a very common occur with interm of every form

Before assume regul type in gener. subsist for some time.

In this then nothing but what migh reasonably have been expected.

But if conject of patient as to cause by which interm induced be well foundd, this not the case

For according to acct given us was conseq of influ of fear.

Appreh viz of patient that in conseq of living in house with some affectd with vener disease would be subj to that compl.

If in this respect conject of patien really well founded, must own is to me a very great singul.

That indeed patient may have been under great appreh from cause just ment. do not doubt.

And that febrile diseases of diff kinds, often conseq of passions of mind partic fear attested by most accur obser

Although therfore such I must own have not fallen under my own observ. yet cannot consider them as singul

Where however fever referrd to fear has for most part given rise to it in contin form.

And in almost every case of which I have read or heard has been effec of sudden fright.

This however was not case in pres inst.

Is indeed true that appreh of danger has been observd to render influ of other causes of disease, more powerful.

This alledged to have held not only with respect to plague, & small pox, but also with highly infect fever

And If thus encr. power of contag may also augm influ of marsh mias.

And this by much most general cause of interm fever.

In this manner then if had any influence probab. that operated.

At same time more probab that had no effect.

And that to be consid merely as one of ordin [vernal] intermit which although cause not obv are commonly conseq of marsh effluv.

With regard either to prognos or pract in this case now unnecss to say any thing.

For in very short time after patien receivd in our list, as found himself unable to attend applied for admiss into Infirm.

And from thence is now dismissd cured the interm being removed by use of Peruv. Bark.

May only observe that after [prem] use of vomit was intent to have tried him with Peruv Bark Pulv Gallar as a substit of Peruv. Bark

And in order to obt as far as possib those sensib qualit which bark [possess] to this also conj a propor of Cort Cinm

By this meant to supply arom flav of Bark, while Gallr furnishd astringency.

And in as far as virtues of Peruv Bark, depend as some have supposd on astring & aroma conj, from these artic might have expected medic prop.

As however from desert of patient no opport for trial afforded unnecss to say any thing farther with regard it.