DEP/DUA/1/34/22 (Transcript version)

Jean Hay

(1783-1784)

---

Jean Hay March 27^th

In case of this patient an example of an affect in some resp singul.

And such I own as in my own pract have not before met with

If to name disease of pat. from obvious sympt. bloody disch from vagina would give it app. of Menor.

An occur. which might at least be consid as uncomm with a patient of age of ours.

For has already arrived at very near her 70 year.

But this by no means greatest singul.

For must be allowed that with some females menses cont. for a very long period.

And that about time of disapp most apt to be excess.

Here however to be observed that with pres. pat. menses had ceased about usual period.

That is near twenty years before comm of pres. affect

Hence then if to give disease name of Menorrh or excess. menst must suppose that after so long interv menses had again returned.

A circum which if has ever been obs. to occurr must at least be allowed to be very rare.

At same time must be allowed, that during eight months for which cont. some app. of being of nature of menst. disch

For not only attended with pain of back but also in some degr. period.

Must however be remarkd that period of contin in gener. longer than that of intermiss.

And at time when came under our care had contin for eight weeks without any intermiss.

Upon whole then inclind to look upon it rather as ex of what may be calld Haemorrh uteri than menorrhagia.

And from slow & grad manner in which it took place may pres. that rather of pass. than active kind.

Such haemorrh. from uterus as well as other parts induced by many diff causes.

And in partic is often the conseq of affect of schirrous or cancr. kind.

Affect which when occurring are of most danger tenden.

While at same time in general prod of most excruc pain.

From this circum reason I think to hope that this cause does not take place in pres. case.

For though pain in small of back [illegible] not to that degree which should expect in such affect.

No more indeed than may suppose should be the concom of weakness with which also distressd.

Is without sense of burning heat which very gener. occurs in such cases.

And above all is without disch of acrid & [ichorous] fluid, corrod parts.

From these partic then prognos. naturally more fav. than should be disp to give in majority of inst where such haemorrh from uterus ensued.

And this fav. opin not a little supported, by termin which case has had since came under care.

For has so far at least, had for some time complete remiss from affect. that dismissd from farther attend.

Would not from this be understood to pron. that radic cure has taken place.

For if affect origin as I susp. from weak & relaxd state of uterine vessels will be very liab. to return.

Partic in conseq of any consid exert.

And although cancer not cause of haemorrhage may yet be conseq of it.

Or which more probab. recurrence & contin of pres disease may give rise to ulcer of uterus at length prov. fatal.

For pres. at least no ground for any appreh of this kind.

And whether recurr does or does not take place may have now dismiss pat. free from affect.

The relief here obt am I own disp. to attrib to remedy empl.

On idea that haemorrh depend on rupture of weak & relaxd vessels were naturally to look for cure from use of astring.

And as such had here recourse to Elix of Vitriol.

Of this artic need hardly obs. that the astring power dep. entirely on Vitriol acid which enters [compos].

And here so far diluted by add of Spt of wine that may be taken without inconv. to extent of 40 or 50 drops for dose

Besides however dilut with spirit is here also comb. with [impreg.] of aromat. Cinnam & Ginger.

In this form every day empl. with advant against haemorrh of passive kind.

Partic those from uterin vessels.

And in my own pract have in many former inst exper. from it the best effects

For this pat directed to be taken in glass of cold water to extent of thirty drops twice a day.

And use it would app. soon attended with good conseq.

For in very short time the haemorrhage much abated.

And in space of week was almost entirely free from it.

Though this however the case all sympt had not left her.

For still much affected not only with weakn of back but also with pain.

Was with view of allaying this which susp. in some degr. to be musc. that directed frict of parts with anod. balsam.

From this however did not der. any immed benefite.

But after cont. for space of a forthnight pains had almo. entirely left her.

And as during all this time from persist in use of Elix no return of Haemorrh concl. that for pres at least overcome.

Was therefore dismissd from attend.

But must concl. with obs. as have already done, that will not be surprizd at return.