DEP/DUA/1/38/57 (Transcript version)

Alexander Henry

1785

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Alexr Henry Decr 24. 1785

In hist of this pat case, a collec of sympt. which can hardly be consid as constit any partic genus of dis.

While at same time are such as occurr in diff. gener.

Consisted prin in pains in diff parts of body.

But espec. severe in the head.

These accomp, at times at least, with diff febrile sympt.

For as sympt of this state, may reckon both hot & cold fits, & sweatin to which subj.

As well as protr of app. & encr of thirst.

In combin of pains of fever have charact of Rheum in most acute & inflam. state.

But here sever circum against such a suppos.

Partic situat of pains.

For in such inst of Rheum, very gener. at least, in joints.

Circum Of which no app. in case bef. us.

Here even some ground for doubt, wheth affect was not entirely a mod of inter. fever.

For with this, well known that sevr pains, in diff parts of body, partic in head, often conn.

But if this the case, must at least be allowed, that type very irreg.

And often with Rheum, in state of irritab as much fever conn.

While again in this case, pain more apt to affect other parts than joints.

And this I own, view which was disp to take of case, when he came undr care

Must however own that in prog of disease, nothing has occurrd which can be consid as confirm opin.

And still same doubt as before, whether pains to be consid as Rheum, or as dep on modif of interm.

After fav. term which has alr. taken place, obs. on progn. [superf].

May however remark, that on eithr view of disease, had no reason to be appreh. of danger.

But on idea, that affect of Rheum kind, hardly xp. so speedy recov.

At same time, am I own disp to attrib recov., to pract here empl.

Treat. you will obs begun, by exhib of an Emet.

This a pract to which should have natur had recourse on idea of Interm.

For by emet alone, well known that interm often success. remov.

Here however imag. might also be of use with view to Rheum.

Is espec. indic, in such cases, where fever with such irreg. shiv, as here occurrd.

Then in partic often means of excit sweat. even more as cop. than as prop [sud].

And accord in case before us, attend with this affect.

During prof. sweat, which followed use, pat. enj quiet night.

But in morn return of head with as great viol as before.

While at same time, in other resp affect nearly in former state.

In this situat. determ on attempt cure by means of Peruv. Bark.

But prior to exhib, thought it advis, to premise a second emet.

By giving an emet prior to cure of Bark, am inclin to think, that in most cases influ very consid augm.

And this indeed, not surpr. when consid, that thus fairer opp. afforded of acting on nerves of stom.

In interm in partic, often a great load of bil matter, & viscid muc coll. there.

And when bark mixd with these, hardly to be exp. that can have much influ.

But on idea of Rheum, thought also might here be adv. as pav way for Bark, both from unload stom, & giv. remiss of pain.

The Peruv Bark, here consid as a remed, equally suited for disease, on either view taken of it.

Of its effic in cases of Interm, hardy necess to make any obs.

May only remark, that of all remed hitherto known, against that affect, none equally safe & effic.

And indeed, under prop manag, will very seld. fail.

While however, thus useful in interm. is also in my opin. highly [servic] in cases of Rheum.

With advant to be deriv. from it, in affect of that kind must indeed ack. that have not been long acq.

By this, do not pretend to say, that use in, Rheum by any means new.

But for my own part at least, have of late empl. it with great success, in cases of that disease, in which was not before in hab of empl. it.

Partic in those inst. of Rheum both in states of Inflam & Irritab. where compl. remiss from pain, obt by other med, partic sudorif

In these cases well known, that pain liab to freq. returns, & with distress. sever.

But by free use of Bark, when rem obt. am conv. by repeated exper, that return may be freq, & success. prev.

Of this pract. was first informed by Dr Palmer of Peterb, an intell. & very accur. obs. of dis & remed.

Since was acq. with it, have had occas. in cases even of great inflec where severe inflamm in Rheum. to empl. bleed & [sweat] much less than formerly.

And must be allowed, that though these prod of relief, yet when [carrie] very far, often followed by worst [consq]

Among others may ment. great dispos to return of pains.

Since acq. with this pract. after [prem] bleeding & obt. freed from pain by cop. sweat, have instead [recourse] to Bark.

And by this, repet of either of former pract, very comm. rend unnecess.

By this then, led to empl. in pres inst.

To which, as alread obs, ambig of case, & suppos of interm, occurrd as addit argum.

After operat of vomit the Emet. Bark taken to extent of ℥i thrice a day

And in this manner contin till had used it to it extent of about two ounces.

But then found, him entirely free from compl.

And in such a situat, that farth contin of med. & farther attend seemd altog. unnecss.

Hence then, whethr view case, as modif of Rheum or Interm, have here ex, of severe pain in diff parts of body, which could for short time, be susp by sweat. being radic removed by Peruv. Bark.