DEP/DUA/1/34/32 (Transcript version)

Ann Dryburgh

(1783-1784)

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Ann Dryburgh. April 10

In history of this patients case have a variety of sympt.

And these not perhaps to be consid as marking any partic disease

At same time all of them such as very freq. occurr in Hysteria

And although here no prop Hys. fits yet have what may be consid as suffic diagn of that disease.

Partic the glob. hysteria, the period fits of sneezing, yawning & the like.

Here then consider us as having an example of Hysteria occuring under form of what may be calld Hyster sympt.

And under this form of the disease no sympt ment in hist of our patient case which does not freq. occur.

State of mind indeed here descrb. anxiety viz about event of case rather that which occurrs in hypoch than Hysteria.

For while former marked by melancholy the latter in gener. with a variable tempr.

But though this commonly yet no invariable constantly the case in Hyster.

Depression of spirits attending it, cannot even be consid as a rare occurr.

And especially when arises, as was here supposed to be the case, from passions of the mind.

Here then may consid case as in no respect uncommon.

And as exhib no app. pecul. alarm or distressing.

This howevr no suff. ground for very fav. prognos.

For disease even under slightest form well known to be often very obstin.

And after having now cont. for space of twelve years, can hardly I think hope for speedy fav. term.

No circum indeed from which can have any reason to dread a fatal event.

But am inclind to think that utmost can here look for is to be able to dismiss pat. with mitig of affect.

And this chiefly I appreh to be expected by counteract inordin action of aliment. canal.

For this purpose, had here [you] will obs. recourse to Tinct. Fulig

This artic while derives it name from Fulig. yet has its activ princip depend on the Assa foet.

And here that artic dissolvd in Spirit menst.

By this means can be taken to greater extent than when given under form at last of Tinct Foetid

While has more sudden, & more consid action, than when given in solid state.

Was directed to be taken to extent of two drams which consid as med dose.

And this repeated twice, during course of the day.

Under use of this med patient has at least obt some tempor. relief.

And had not only more free disch of wind with remov of glob. but also less affected with yawning [streaching] & flying pains.

From contin reason to hope that these benef. may be somewhat encreased.

And if go so far that can dismiss this patient much relievd from affect is I own the utmost that here exp.

But must again observe, that very doubtful, how far even this end can be obt.

If however, after due trial of Tinct Fulig. is not accompl. by this means, a variety of other pract. which may be tried either in conj. with it or alone.

And in partic may have recourse to any of the diff. min tonics.

Partic to those of Copper. Zinc or Iron

But with pres. patient in prefer. to any of these have it first in [contemp.] to make trial of Camphor.

An artic the activ of which [very] very consid.

And which here the rather indic from state of patients mind.

For with other effects, Camphor has unquest. somewhat of excit power.

If success. in pres case will I own tend still farther to confirm me in high opin of med.

If fails, shall I own be inclind to attrib it rather to obstin of compl than to want of effic in med.

At the same time if patient cont. attend. this need not prev. from trials of other pract. already suggested.