DEP/DUA/1/33/16 (Transcript version)

Ann Braidwood

1783

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Ann Braidwood Decr 12 1783

Disease to which this pat subj entirely a cutan affect.

For except eruption on skin healh in every respect good.

To such cutan affect very differ appellat given.

But when appear in that dry scaly state of which an exampl in pres case best entit to appel of Lepra

And though a less consid disease yet reason to believe that somewhat of same nature at least with Leprosy of ancients.

An affect to which from ancient records of this city would app. that its inhab. very much exposed.

Then indeed unquest in much more loathsome form than have at pres opport of obs. & supp. highly infect

This so much the case that hospit erected in neigh of City into which all lep. patients compl. to enter.

And was a crime punish with inst death if patients conf. to the Hosp went beyond cert. limits.

But with this dreadful state of the disease are now unacq.

And with virul. freq of disease also very much dimin.

Probab. the conseq of change of living partic of empl. larger propor of recent veget.

But still more of change in greater cleanliness & partic in more freq changes of linnen

Notwith every precaut however such affect as pres no unfreq occurr.

And most commonly conseq of want of free cutic disch from state of superfic vessels.

But whether from this cause or not very gener. diseases of consid obstin.

And nothing more common than to find them after app. yielding agan recurring.

In case before us sever circum from which may concl. that removal will be work of some diffic.

Were we indeed to judge from degree to which affect takes place [should] form fav. opin

For has at no time been to great extent.

And if to inferr future progr to recov. from what has already hap. opin would be still more fav.

For from commen of treatm of this case, app of disease, have yeilded very consid.

From this however, as already remarkd, cannot with any confid concl. against return.

And to be obs. that notwith patient at early period of life has been already of consid durat.

Form under which app. is that which has been obs. to be most obstin.

And occurr at so early a period, of life would argue pecul dispos to it in the habit.

Hence then notwith flattering app. still appreh. that this case will be of consid obstin.

Yet hope that in end shall be able fully to overcome it.

In effecting this, more perhaps to be obt. from extern applic, than in any other way.

For thus have it in our power, to exert immed action on diseased vessels

But besides this, from change thus induced in mode of circul, in genr requist also, that some disch from body should be augm.

And partic the cutic disch.

For by this due state of superfic vessels most effect preservd.

On these grounds pract [here] directed have been empl.

Began by direct as an extern applic use of Ungt Citrin.

This ointment formerly place in sever editions of Ednr Pharm. rejectd from that pub. in 74 under direct of Dr Cullen, but restored to pres. edit.

Is unquest a very active mercur. oint.

Indeed, so much so, that before can with safety be exhib, must be made weaker by addit of Axung.

When one ℥i of this ointm, added to ℥i of axunge, as in pres prescr. gives ointm suff. active to begin with

And find it a more conven applic than Corros. sublim. which have formerly been much in habit of using

Have of late in many inst. empl. prescript here directed with best effects.

And indeed know no topic applc from which more may be expected.

But that may be used with safety as already remarkd an encrease of some disch from the body requis.

And was here with view of encr. the cutic disch that had recourse to Antim

From Antim in crude state have often exper. best effects in this way.

While at same gives less uneas as prod sickness at stom than most other antimon.

Cannot however be repres. as never having that effect.

And in case before us, you will obs, has always prod some degree of sickness.

This indeed in some degr. conn. with its activ.

For is effect of metal part being brought to state of solut in stom.

And on this activ depends.

Where however solut so rapid as to give much sickness, may be moder. by slight destruct of acid in stom

Accord with this view, in pres. case have you will obs. added a small prop. of Magnes.

A pract from which in some former inst have found best effects as counteract such uneas.

Hope therfore will be attended with same conseq in pres.

And flatter myself that by due contin of this course may be able to dismiss pat. free from affect.

But if this should not be the case various other remed both extern & intern which may be tried.

But choice must afterwards be regul by circum in which shall then find pat.