DEP/DUA/1/37/35 (Transcript version)

Betty Willis

1785

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Betty Willis. March. 26^th. 85.

Concerning case of this patient have not I own been able to form any decided opin.

When came under our care sympt numerous.

And at same time such as occur in diff. disorders.

Hence might give foundat for affixing diff appellat to the affect.

Since became patient here sympt have undergone a consid chang

Hence may at present be consid as lab. under diff disease from what had when came under our care.

But this affect am inclind to look upon as more of accid or transit nature.

Appears chiefly under form of severe cough & prob of a catarh affect

While with regard to former compl. though of much longer contin yet greater room for doubt.

Most distress sympt severe pain referrd to region of stom.

And when consider that this trans only & attended with consid swelling can have little doubt that arises from flatul.

Here also cause giving pain, produced borborigm & eructat.

To stomach affect also may refer not only nausea & tend to vomit but also vertigo, & headach.

For well known, that from stom compl. such very freq. arise.

In these then may be consid as having if not all, at least the comm sympt of dyspep.

And at same time such as most strongly charact that disease

Of this also farthr indic in sourness at stom.

But some other sympt again which at least not common in that affect.

Partic freq. syncope to which is subjected.

In this, as well as in state of spirits, have what should rather be disp. to consider as hyster symp

And in this disease, well known that many affect of the alim canal take place.

While at same time, so liable to variety in app, that hard to say under what forms, may not sometim pres itself.

To suppos of this disease also, age of patient rather fav.

For was at that period, when with females, hyster a much more comm affect than Dyspep.

From these circum then could not help thinking that here some room for doubt.

But at same time, am disposed to consider, suppos of dyspep as most probab.

In this view, affect could not be consid as slight.

For besides number & severity of sympt, disease had also already been of very consid contin

Had subsisted, before came under our care, for space of six years.

And during that time, had encreased in viol.

May also add, that attended with appear, both uncommon and alarm.

For as such may always consid syncope which if give up idea of hyster, here to be consid as well as vertigo & headach, as conseq of stom ailm

Is indeed true that pure dysp. seldom a fatal disease.

But in some inst, this has even been conseq, of mere exhaust of system.

Still more reason I think to apprh danger, where had proceeded to such length, as to induce deliq. animi.

But at same time in other respects, sympt of pres patient less alarm.

For notwith contin of disease, sever of pain, & freq of vomiting, yet had not given rise to any obv. marks of exhaust.

And some probab. that depress of spirit, had led her to repres. affect in most unfav. light.

Hence then expected that should have rather to combat an obstin, than a danger affect.

And hoped even that by propr aid if could not remove might yet allev compl.

But as doubtful with respect to nature so must also necess be, with respect to termin of disease.

And now, can speak with as little certainty, as before.

For although as already obs. app. of disease in some respects varied, yet with regard to prim affect in as great uncert. as ever.

Began treatm you will observe, on idea of patient being subj to a dyspep affect, by having recourse to one of most active, & strongest of vegetab bitters. The Tinct. Absinth.

In our pharmac obj is to prepare this Tinct. of very great activ.

And with this intent is directed to be made by what calld double infus

That is after menst has acted on one proport of absinth is added to anoth.

And imagind that thus stronger tinct than if whole absinth introd at once

In this however, am inclind to think, that college have been led into mistake.

At least in trials which I have made, can make full as strong a tinct by single, as by double infus.

And am even persuaded, that a Tinct of equal strength, may be obt from smaller quant of absinth.

Or in other words, that menst unable fully to extract qualit of absinth directed to be used.

But whether these observat well founded or not, can be no doubt that Tinct Absinth prep. accord to Ednr Pharm. a very strong bitter.

In so much that even in small doses few stom able to bear it, by itself.

Here therefore given in a diluted state.

And as a diluent had recourse to Peppermint water.

This need hardly observe, from proport of pungent essent oil which contains, operates as very powerful carmin.

And by this means, in many inst of stom affect. gives very great relief from pain, by immed disch of wind.

To this combin, have in other inst, had recourse in former pract & with best effect.

Hoped therefore, that would here also be prod of good conseq.

As at first taken gave no uneasiness at stom

And vomiting at least not more freq. than before.

Seemd however to have but little influ as tending to allev affect.

And while stom affect contin with formr sever, became now also affectd with distress. cough.

Was with view to allev of this that had recourse to Pil. Theb.

And of all means of [immed] allaying this inord action, none perhaps more effectual.

Here however, in effect of this also disapp.

For opium taken to extent of gr i at bed time, seemd to have no influ on cough.

While at same time, mixt with Tinct Absinth, was not only without effect of moving belly reliev. stom compl. but after every dose, was affectd with vomiting.

Though consid this as being rather conseq of disease, than of med. yet after trial already given, reckond it suff. reason for discont. use.

Wishd to see, what would be state of stom compl, while left entirely to themselves.

But at same time, urgen of coug now united with pain of breast, claimd attent.

And as Pil. Theb. of themselv insuff, with contin of these, ordered the applic of a blister afterw to be conv. into an issue.

What has since been state of cough, have not yet had an opp of learning.

And accord to condit in which find her, future meas must be entirely directed.