DEP/DUA/1/39/30 (Transcript version)

Martha Anderson

(1785-1786)

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Martha Anderson. April 8^th.

This patient but for short time under care.

And now therefore almost nothing to add to what formerly obs. with respect to case.

Sympt as enum in hist of case of consid variety.

In cough & pain of breast, have pector sympt very common both in catarrh & phithis.

And may perhaps be consid as some indic of latter that consid pain under stern with sense of weight.

Espec as well known that Phthis a very insid disease.

And that has often made consid progr. while yet under form in no degree alarm

Hence even state of pulse here 65 in min. & want of other hect. sympt no secur.

But pect. compl. whether catarrh or Phthis, were at least not most distress. part of ailm.

Still more affected with stom ailm

From these under form of Cardialg. acid. eruct, & flatul. very great distress

And this also not a little augm by glob. hyster.

With either pector or stomach ailm may suppose that headach conn.

For with this also are told was almost const affected.

And well known that a very freq attend of both sets of symp ment.

But besides these three still a fourth occur to be ment in this case, swelling of hands & ancles.

This we are told partic obs. towards night.

But at same time from any thing we saw or could learn from pat not of oedem kind.

While this of transit nature had no marks of any effus in cellul memb.

Hence neither to be [referrd] to solids nor to serosity.

Consid therefore as merely conseq. of some encr. accumul. of blood in vessels, partic veins.

A circum not unfreq prod such where [from] want of due action of vessels impress of blood less more free than egress.

And probab. connected only with other ailm. as being effect of gener. bad health.

But while sympt thus diversif still probab. that all from same cause.

From hist of case will obs. that Catamen have not app. for three months past.

And well known that from want of regul menst. most numer & compl sympt arise.

Here then not imposs. at least that may be source of whole compl.

But even supp. this to be case still anoth partic to be attended to.

Of matter conseq to determ which whether amenorrh. Idiopath or sympt

For when latter case though induces various sympt yet to be comb. only by remov. of prim affect.

But among other partic, is often what may be calld sympt of pregn.

And while obst from this cause patient freq. variety of other sympt partic uneas. at stom.

Often pretend that obstruct from other causes, when wish to conceal pregn, or to procure abort.

And often to cover deceit pretend sympt with which in no degree affected.

Wherever therefore even possib of pregn this circum to be had in view.

And till evid that this state does not exist no prud pract will think of having recourse to activ med.

In case of this patient must indeed acknowl. that saw no circum giving suspic of pregn.

At same time as knew nothing of her could as little say how far might not be deceiv us in acct given.

For this reason & espec as subj to no urgent sympt. resolvd for some time at least to do very little

But merely princip to look on till should be able to form more decis opin as to nature of affect.

Accord at first merely pres. for her a few aloet pills.

These, prob. from operat as stimul to rectum, have affect in some cases as giving tend to menst.

But father imag. that as opening belly might allev some other sympt partic stomach ailm.

As found howevr that notwith operat sourness still contin, directed also Pulv. Cretac.

But since that have seen nothing farther of patient.

Hence preclud from opport both of forming decis judgem of disease & future pract

And therfore farther observ unnecess.