DEP/DUA/1/31/12 (Transcript version)

Peter Paton

(1782-1783)

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Peter Paton.

Case of this patient as describd in register consists of very few sympt.

And in all prob. disease might be consid as a very simple & uncomplic affect.

State of disch by belly excepted might be consid as in every other resp in perfect health.

Pulse indeed somewhat quicker than natural standard.

But in this respect with diff indiv. consid variety

And nothing very singul. if with pres patient had been always this quick.

This the rather prob. when consid that in other resp. of natural strength & feel.

But even supposing that here a morbid change yet still evid of no great conseq.

For when consid that not attended with anxietas febrilis or even with heat or thirst could not view it in light of febrile sympt.

Suppose disease then to consist entirely in freq watery stools.

In this view can have no hestitat in consid it as refer. to gener. [term] of Diarrhoea

In this disease well known that many diff modif. occurr.

Of these some among pract writers disting even by partic. names.

Such for ex as Coelica, Lient. or like

In case before us from nature of the matter disch. there does not occur. any of those partic app. charact such modif.

At same time pres. case by no means without singular.

Was no inconsid singul. that should contin for [such] long time without any affect of general health

But still more so that had such remiss during night.

And that in morning disch took place of natural consist.

From this, reason to inferr that augm. by erect posture, & action.

By these means little doubt that excrem matter more quickly brought to rectum than would otherwise be the case.

And this circum joind to [irresis] propens. to freq. disch. even when little to be evac. led me to consider affect as cheifly seated in the rectum.

As depend on pecul irritab state of that part of alim canal.

Prob. also conjoind with weakened tone.

From this idea of the affect while furn. with explan of sympt, was [led] conclude that disease more [trobles] than danger.

As had already for long time subsisted so might contin without any other inconv. than that of oblig patient to go freq. to stool.

And as had not hitherto [resist] any powerful remed, partic directed against local affect itself had more reason to hope even for exped cure.

This the rather to be looked for if suppos well founded that depend on a local affect within reach.

And that too of such nature that had no reason to believe would be diffic to remove it.

On these grounds then expected I own what might be calld speedy recov.

At same time did not expect that would have been so soon as was realy the case.

And I own was agreeably [disapn] as to success. termin of this affect.

While at same time every reason for presum, that was conseq of pract here empl.

On idea of local affect about extrem of rectum, became natural suggest. that cure most readily affected by injec

And on idea of encreasd irritab. was chiefly to be expected, by a sedat. allaying tend to inord. action.

With this however as supp. weaknd tone to be also conj. seemd advis to employ a remed. which would have tenden to brace this part of intest.

These views will naturally [point] out intent in pract here empl.

Remed here empl. the Theb. Tinct. thrown in under form of inject as being diff in Decoct. of Peruv. Bark.

Need hardly add that to former of these chiefly attrib cure in pres. case.

Here will perhaps be imagind that Laudam empl. in but small dose.

Given only to extent of thirty drops & that too in form of inject.

Opium indeed now univ. allowed to act not by entering syst. [but] by excit. influ on sensib extrem of Nerves.

And might at first be imagined that would have equal effect to whatever part of alim canal applied

This however very far from being the case.

And unquest. that as inducing sleep that as induc sleep any quant of Laud taken by mouth, more than [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]

That this the case exper. I think has now fully confirmd.

For even from first inject very [cons] mitig of looseness prod.

And by repetit was entirely removed. In so much that after contin free from any return for near space of 8 days, & without any med, reckond [farth] attend unnecss.

Here indeed, besides the Laud. in the inject, as has already been obs, Decoct. of Bark empl.

And to this perhaps, may be imag, that something ought to be attrib.

That had good effect would not altog. deny.

At the same time am I own, [inclind] to consid it prin here, in light of a vehicle.

Espec. from obs. that affect ceasd so soon.

For to derive any thing from influ of bark as tonic, longer time & more freq. repet. would have been requis.

And consider cure as cheifly if not solely affected by Theb. Tinct.