DEP/DUA/1/33/14 (Transcript version)

Henrietta Kid

(1783-1784)

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Hen. Kid. Decr 14.

Most urgent part of this pat compl. as related in hist of case consists in severe pains

Though these attack diff & dist. parts of body as back, breast, head yet very little doubt that proceed from one common cause.

Affect viz of Menstr. disch which here occurrs.

This suffic evinced by two circum.

By period attack at menst. period & by state of menst. disch.

Is princip if not only at time of disch. that these sympt occurr.

And disch. itself in place of natural colour & quant. not only small but merely serous fluid of greenish colour

When however consider age & other circum of this female can be no doubt that to be viewd as great dev. from natural course.

As however disch not entirely [want] cannot with strict prop. get name of Ammen

And is rather an ex of Dysmen. or diffic menstruat.

This however in nature often not essent diff from total suppress.

And indeed freq. both effect merely of operat of same causes to diff degrees.

Accord Dr Cullen has extended his definit of Ammen. so as to compreh. all cases.

And of three species he has referrd to this genus can have no doubt in consid it as example of Amm [Diffic]

From this source well known that an almost infin diversity of sympt may be prod.

And to this besides what alr. ment. can have no doubt also in referring, swelling of Mamma, sickness at stom & other sympt to which pat. subj.

This disease no less freq than obstin.

And in pres case several circum by which would be led to form rather unfav. opin.

Not indeed that any reason for appreh immed danger unless from some superv. disease.

Although at same time cases of Ammen. freq. cut off pat. by induc [illegible]

And could not be consid as singul. if this should happen in pres inst.

But at pres at least no immed threatning of it.

And from slight febrile sympt to which lately subj. was again, when lately saw her, entirely free.

But what here at pres to be dread is obstin rather than dang of disease

For has already to greater or less degree subsisted, you will obs. for space of sever. years.

And of late has been much encr. in severity.

Since comm. had indeed an [entire] remiss for short time.

That however at a time when menst. flux should have been entirely wanting.

During periods viz of Pregn & Nurs.

Here however to be obs. that in latter of these disch as is comm the case, not entirely wanting as is comm. the case.

But notwith this was without inconven.

From pregn & subseq nursing then simil relief might again be expected.

But much to be doubted whether will be obt by any remed we can [employ]

For must be allowed that although menst disch often by artif means to be restored to natural stand. yet as freq all our endeav in vain.

In such circum howevr as [those] of pres pat. diff princip on which trials may be made with some prosp of success.

In these however am inclind to think that success must very much depend on meas being prop [accord] to cause of obstr. or other irregul.

And with respect to this as much diversity of opin. as with regard to [cause] of flux itself.

On this subj the sentim which I entertain are somewhat pecul.

These have annually occas to state at full length in lect on Theory of Med.

Here however any observat [resp] Theory of Menst. entirely out of place

Shall only obs. that in my opin for natural state of this disch. besides due accum of blood in uterine vessels there must also [occur] a period action of uterus itself.

Scarcity or obst. of disch therefore may proceed from one of three causes.

From want of due accumul of blood

From want of period contract.

Or from want of suff. free passage from uterine vessels into cavit of that viscus.

Accord however to partic cause having effect intent of cure must be directed accordingly

And here much at loss to determ to what cause to be princip referrd.

From several circum however inclind to conject that prin effect of want of due expuls. power.

And on this acct thought that natural disch might be rest. by encr. tonic power.

Was with this intent that with pres. patient had thought of having recourse to Per. Bark.

That might be prod however of any good effect was requis that should be used for some length of time

And partic during interval between menstruat.

When treatm of case begun howev menstr. evac expected in space of few days.

In place therfore of immed ordering Peruv. Bark directed for her use of Aloet Pills.

By these had in part in view the obt. a regul disch by belly

As from obv. costiveness expected that some at least of her uneasy sympt. might be allev.

But still more directed this med from pecul influ which has as stimul rectum.

And from that stimul. being commun to uterus.

By this hoped that stronger action & more free disch might be induced.

And whether this reasoning just or not, unden. that aloet purgat have often effect, of giving more cop. menst.

In this case therfore some ground for expect. benef. exclus of influ in obv. costiv.

From empl. of Aloet pill to extent of grV for dose, had in gener. two stools in a day.

And after short contin of use menst. disch app.

Occurr however merely at that period when might otherwise have been expected.

And that influ of pills not very great app from disch being still scanty.

She herself however was inclind to think that colour rather more natural.

While at same time pains & other sympt. upon the whole rather less severe.

Hence then reason to inferr that had been prod of at least some good effect.

On this acct. although prop also to pros. anoth meas, thought that this might with advant be contin.

But could expect no benef from support const looseness during whole interval

And as pill had rather more effec than that of giving easy disch by belly directed empl only every 2^d night.

As had now, during interval, fair opport. for use of bark, this also directed.

And as meant to be given in cont. course, for some length of time, was not obj to exhib it in precip. [month]

Hence directed only to extent of ℥i in day.

Under this course pat. has now contin for space of some weeks

During that time, some varieties indeed in quantity of Aloet pills.

For these regulated accord to effect on belly

But the Bark unif contin.

And was my intent to persist in use during whole interval.

But in this course, have as you will observe by last report been [interrp]

For were then informd that had for space of some days been affected with febrile parox attended with cough.

This, from acct given of it, consid as accident catarrh affect.

But although viewd it as unconn. with other compl. claimd first [atten]

And directed with view to it, an Emet & a mucil mixt.

By these, or even by progr to spont. recov, under prop. managm, hope that may soon be freed from this affect.

And notwith interrup, may yet expect to see, by state of affect at next period, how far remed empl have been attended with any good conseq.

As disch now at hand shall avoid other meas. till usual period at least elapsed.

If with more natural quantity & app of disch other sympt dimin may attrib to them good effect.

And by contin of same plan may expect cure.

Or even without contin of Bark may look for it from air exercise & tonic diet substit to Bark some cheaper veget bitters.

If on contrary, circum of disch much as formerly, shall think of trying other meas.

And in such a case as pres, nothing from which should expect more, than use of Electric.

This whether as immed inducing action, or as restor power of action, promises very great advant in case of Ammennorh

And whether operates on these prin or not, no doubt that one of most powerful Emmen. with which are acquainted.

Has often effect of restor disch to natur stand when empl under form of shocks.

When appl in this way, disch often immed conseq of operat

But in other inst, espec when given under form of sparks, or insulat, [operat] only after some contin.

And is by such contin alone, that can expect to obt restor of due action

For this however, situat of pat very unfav, as lives at some dist in the country

Hence little chance of being regul in attendance.

Before therefore having recourse to it have thoughts of trying som other measures

Shall probab. have recourse to the Rubia Tinct. or Madder. an artic on which some disp to place very great confid.

May employ a fav. remedy with some of French pract. the Marrub.

Or what probab. more powerful than either may try a course of some Chalyb

But in these partic must entirely be regul by circum in which shall find patient after pres period has passed.