DEP/DUA/1/37/10 (Transcript version)

Margaret Russell

(1785)

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Margt. Russell.

With regard to disease of this patien was I own very much at loss.

And although now dismissd from farther attend, for pres at least free from affect, yet in sever respects as doubtful as before.

Various sympt in this case such as very comm occurr in Hyster.

Not indeed under form of proper hyster fits, but what may be calld hyster sympt.

As such may cert. consider ball rising from stom to oesoph. or glob. hyster as has been calld

A sympt by some even consid as pathognom of this disease.

May also view as of same kind the sensat rising from stom to crown of head.

Perhaps also In which again have, at least somewhat of that appear, disting by title of Clav. Hyster.

Consid likewise as being hysteric, the stom ailm with which affected.

But was I own, very doubtful, whether could referr to same cause affect of right eye.

For while sympt. already ment transit & occas, this again perman.

And consisted both in impaird stat of vision, & in affect of eye lids.

For was in conseq of dimin of power in these, that right eye, gener. app. near half closed.

Was appreh. therefore, that this depend on a Nerv affect of diff kind.

And that realy to be consid as depend on paralysis of part.

Perhaps from some cause of compress within brain, operating also as cause of headach

But if thus consid it doubtful, whether affect of vision, in any degree connected with hyster, no less room for doubt, respect pains in other parts of body.

Partic these in chest & thighs.

Is indeed true, that hyster on diff occasions, gives rise to almost infin diversity of sympt.

And No part of body, in which pains may not be induced from this cause.

And may occurr in these here affectd, as well as others.

But in pres inst, pain much more of fixd kind, than have ever obs. arising from hyst.

For there have unif obs. them although acute yet of transit natr

And here indeed seemd to me much more prob. that were of the Rheum. kind.

Upon whole then, consid disease of this patient, as being of complic, & in many respects of doubtful nature.

If however doubt in other partic, so likewise with respect to cause to which attrib.

Were consid as affect of a copious blood letting, & of conseq. susp. of the menst. disch.

That excess. loss of blood, may often give rise to irritab of syst, & to affect of hyster kind, is cert. true.

And that had therfore consid [share] in induc these, not improb.

Espec when consider that from this period, these sympt are dated.

But more doubtful with regard to its being cause of others.

And indeed if conject as to nature of these not erron. this suppos. is I think highly improb.

Still more so, that induced any of these compl. from obst. of menst.

With me very doubtful, whether as prev future menst. has had any share.

Is indeed true, that menses may fail, in conseq of state of gen. inan.

But at same time, from haemorr of any kind, is at least very rare occur.

And our patient it is to be obs. had arrived at that period, when menses of themselves often fail, her 50 year.

Reckon it therefore most probab [supp], that wanting from this cause

But supp. that excess. bloodlos prev menst, should not in that case have susp. that want of this haemorrh, would have been prod of any inconv.

And do not consider it as having had any share in induc other sympt.

With all these doubts concer nature & cause of affect. was necess. very [unsur] as to progn.

And although pat. dismissd for pres, with most of sympt gone, other consid relievd, yet I own, am very far from looking upon her, as cured.

Nor do I consid pract here used, as having had much influ in prod fav change which has taken place.

Began pract by directing with view to headach, & affect of vision, a blister behind ear, from which disch to be supp under form of issue.

And at same by [time] by having recourse to mixture of Valer. & Bark, with a view to flatul & other hyst sympt.

From these remed at first thought that she obt consid relief.

But in short timed tired of both, & prob from this circum, more than any thing else, formd diff idea of them.

And accord, while thought that powdr excited sickness at stom, imagind also, that issue aggrav. affect of vision.

From her own judgem. therefore, gave up use of both.

In this situat directed for her the use of some Merc. pills.

These not here empl, as a remedy against hyster affect, but directed entirely to other parts of affect.

And Had in view both Rheum pains & affect of vision.

In certain states of Rheum, Mercury unquest a most useful remedy

And late employm against affect of hydroceph kind, would argue utility in diff affect of brain where absorp [necess]

Under use of this med sympt soon very much allev.

At same time, relief so speedy, that reckon it very improbab. that in any degree proceeded from this med.

Was however very glad of this opport of dismiss patient.

For from specim which had given us, great reason to appreh. that would not have adhered steadily in use of any med.

And from disease, under which she lab. might have expected recurr of diff sympt, almost at every report.

Did not therefore seem to me case from future treatm of which could expect to derive much inst.

While at same time for patient herself perhaps less med she takes the better.