DEP/DUA/1/31/35 (Transcript version)

Dugald McFee

(1782-1783)

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N^o XXXI

Dugald McFee at 26 of a fair complexion light blue eyes, an emaciated habit & a somewhat fatuitous appearance is troubled several times in the day with fits of about two minutes continuance, in which he feels himself stupefied but does not fall down. His friends can perceive when they are coming on by a change in his countenance. His senses seem disordered to the bystanders during the fit but he suddenly starts to his feet, takes a turn across the room & finds himself perfectly recovered. P. 76. Belly rather bound.

He is affected with a stammering of his speech but his internal senses & especially his memory seem to be very little impaired.

He was first attackd with a convulsive fit about the age of 13 which seizd him in the night after exposure to cold rain & much fatigue during the day. Since that period he has never been wholy free from them. For 7 years he was troubled with them only in the night.

After which they attackd him for some time chiefly in the day.

After this they again became most frequent in the night. In these he used to continue insensible & speechless for half an hour or more but the proper fit was not above two minutes, was attended with strong trembling of his limbs & much discharge of saliva from his mouth, but not in the form of foam. From this he fell into a deep sleep whether it happened at night or day, & from this he awaknd calm, but with a sense of lassitude & fatigue & he remained weak for a considerable time afterwards. He has been several times bled but never when in the fit. He has also taken several vomits & purges with many other medicines & had a seton in his neck without any relief. He was afterwards a patient at the Dispensary for about a year during which time he took for some months, the Calx Zinci & the Cuprum Ammoniacum

During the use of these medicines his fits seemd to diminish somewhat both in frequency & severity but he was dismissd Febr 8^th 1782 as he had occasion to go into the country having still at times returns of his fits. Since this he has been taking no medicines but for these last two months he has had no strong fit, instead of which the smaller ones or threating of fits have been frequent & troublsm.

He never observd that he passd any worms. His employment is that of teaching boys to read.

Janr 4. Pil Picca

Febr 8. Vitr. alb. ℥ i. Mic. [Pan] ℥ii

Pil. ii. om. m. & vesp.

March 1. Pil. iii. om. m. & vesp