DEP/DUA/1/37/50 (Transcript version)

Hugh McGregor

(1785)

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Hugh McGregor. April 16^th 85.

In hist of this patients case but few sympt enum.

And in these nothing that can be consid as in any degree uncomm or pecul.

Have here evid charact of that affect now gener. known by name of Dyspep.

But still more gener. by that of stom compl.

And which in pres age & in this clim, perhaps one of the diseases most freq. to be met with.

And in which also have in some inst. not only an obstin but even a danger. disease.

For by conseq at least not unfreq fatal.

Yet must be allowed that in greater part of cases, rather troublsom than danger.

And in affect of pres patient nothin to give alarm.

For sympt could not here be consid as occurring, with any great degree of severit.

And had not at least been prod of any app. as indic an affect of the syst. in gener.

For not attended with any marks of inanit.

Or what in such cases a still more alarm app. with any sympt of drop. kind.

But although disease did not app. with marks of danger yet could not be consid as slight.

For had now subsist with patient to consid degree for space of three years.

And of late had been obs. consid augm in point of severity.

Hard therefore to say to what [heigh] might soon arrived.

And must be confessd that even in app. slightest cases, will sometim resist utmost powers of art.

Remov partic diffic with those of low rank, & necess of sedent life.

For in gener. to be affectd more by regim & exerc. than by med.

And with lab. poor, such [unattn]

Hence then could not here with any confid. flatter ourselves with hopes of speedy cure.

But at same time, diff remed which might be tried, with at least prosp of benef.

Entr. therfore on pract, in hopes that might be able if not to remove, at least to allev. affect.

Began you will obs. by directing for patient the Elix of Aloes & Rhub diluted with Peppermint water.

In first of these artic, a med, which from sever circum, may concl. very useful in this affect.

In Rhub. entering its compos. have with these at least, with whose constit does not disagree, one of best med for restor tone to stomach.

And in aloes, an artic which as support regul disch by the belly, perhaps more gener. agrees with dysp. patient than any other.

While in Cadam seeds with which these here conj. a very grateful & warm aromat.

Accord in actual pract. found prod of best affects.

And although no purgat univer. suited to dysp. some succeed with some others with diff pat. yet this gener. [advan]

And in this disease, the support regul disch by belly, & at same time the avoid the induct of loosness, of utmost conseq.

For while former, very much allev., latter never fails to aggrav affect.

But here elix besides being suffic purgat, has also, as already obs. consid effect in encr. tone of stom.

With our patient, state of belly such, as not to require large doses.

Hence therefore, thought it better to employ, it as diluted with peppermint water.

An artic which even by itself, highly useful in such affect.

For from active essent oil which it cont, operates as warm cordial stimul to stom.

And thus in partic, when in Dysp. very great distress from flatul, operates as useful carmin

When began use of this med, derived from it very consid relief.

For in short time, was not only free from vomiting, but also much less affected with pain.

And that this relief not effect of accid, app. from what happened on an accid occas intermiss of med.

For on that intermiss, affection again consid aggrav.

This then gave reason to hope, that from repetit simil benef as formerly might be derived.

And accord at succeeding report affect contin to be very much allev.

During course however of succeeding week, probab. from irregul of diet, or some simil circum, had again return of vomiting

While this however the case could in other respects expect no benef from med.

Thought it necess therfore to do something with view of allaying this tend to inord action.

And with this view had recourse to addit of a small propor of Theb. Tinct.

From which, have in former cases, seen I think, best effects in this way.

Cannot however, here repres it, as having had immed effect of checking vomiting.

For after use begun, that sympt still at times contin

But although attended with pain, yet upon whole, stomach [ailment] consid easier.

And hoped that by due contin, end in view might be obt.

Accord learnt at last report, that had been free from vomiting for near space of week.

And that during this period also pains consid dimin.

Am in hopes therefore that by persist in employm. such allev of affect may be obt. that farthr attend unnecss.

Or at least that may dismiss him, with direct to contin on some gentle stomach bitters, as weak inf of [Wormwoo], of Chamom, or of Gent. as means of prev return

If this however not the case, mean here to try as means with view of bracing the stom, the Vitriol acid.

Prob. employ it under form of Elix where comb with aromat. & as diluted with Pepp. water.

If this also unsuccess future pract empl. must be accomod to circum of case.