DEP/DUA/1/39/36 (Transcript version)

Charles Riddell

(1785-1786)

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Chas Riddell April 15.

Formerly pron. case an inst of Phthis.

And that conseq of Vomica [illegible] Haempty

During course of attend. have had no reason to alter opin.

On contr. every circum which has since occurrd not only conf. idea of disease but also of progn.

That viz affection in end will prove fatal.

Here indeed would not consider all chance of recov. as precl.

For even in worst cases recov. sometimes take place.

And do not consider pres as being equally danger with the tuberc. kind.

But on other hand even [slightes] [where] disease distinct marked always highly danger.

And utmost that can say is that not altogeth incurab.

Even in few inst in which this happens however much more by oper. of nature than of art.

And in pres. inst saw no [mark] of this.

On contrary during course of patien attend here affect const encr.

And if formerly appreh of fatal concl. now reason to be still more so.

After having already spoken durin pres course of sever other inst of Phthis need not now resume any gener. remarks.

And in this case, so little benef from med. that few remarks with regard to these will be suffic.

When came first under our care had but short time before been subj to Haemopt.

And from hardness of pulse had reason to susp. there still remaind dispos to return

In this situat. might perhaps as means of prev, had recourse with advant to small bleeding.

But to this, debilit state of patien exhaust. by compl. occurred as obj.

And indeed must confess have often been disp. to think, that in such situat. bleeding pushd too far.

And at that time too, patient at least free from pain of side.

Resolved therefore at least to reserve it till should be more strongly [indic]

And to attempt rather dimin of impet & prev. of return, by gently refrig. cathart.

For this purp. directed combin of Nitre, with Cream of Tart.

Need hardly obs. that these every day used, in such cases, & not unfr. with consid adv.

And where, with dimin of heat, have affect also of gently opening belly princip of operat obv.

Here however though taken to consid extent not attended with that conseq.

For belly still rather bound than otherwise

Was however unwilling to push them to such extent, as to induce any [cons] looseness.

Thought it suff. therefore, merely to direct contin.

But at this time, anoth circum requir, more attent, viz severe cough.

From contin, had reason to fear, that fresh rupt. would be induced.

As means therefore of relieving it, had recourse to applic of blisters.

And to obt. more perman determ from lungs, directed that disch should be supp, from blistered part, under form of issue.

But although not disapp. in obv operat, yet not attended, with desir affect on cough

And was even subj to some slight return of Haemopt.

This however, consid as entirely of passive kind.

And as means of allev. tend to inordin action, resolved to have recour to Laudan.

Here however exception from [great] dispos. which patient had, to very prof & exhaust sweats.

To prev. bad affect, in this way, thought of conj, it with vitriol acid.

From which imag. also some benef. might be obt. in prev. farth haemorh., from influ as astring.

These then reasons which led me to prescr. for patient, a Mucil mixt. with portion of Spt. Vitriol ten, & Tinct. Theb.

When first began this mixt. thought that dimin both sweating & cough.

While at same time belly at least kept regul. during use of powders.

Cont. also free from pain of side.

But from issue, had so much uneas that obliged to heal it up.

Under other med, contin for space of some weeks.

But during that time, had again freq. returns, both of severe cough, & sweating.

And almost daily, lost both flesh & strength.

In this situat was not displeased to find that was his own wish & intent to return to his natur country of Zetland by sea.

And Accord. dismissd from attend here with view to his depart.

And if any thing of service to him may expect it from Sea voya. Country air & milk diet.

Yet reckon it prob. that will have ordinary termin of Phthisis. Death