DEP/DUA/1/40/28 (Transcript version)

Elizabeth Melville

(1786-1787)

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No28

Eliz. Melville at 40.

In sympt. nothing uncom or pecul.

Chief obv. affect praeter. nat disch of blood from vagina.

Occurring in usual form of Menorrh.

That is took place at period of usual menstr. disch.

Occurd in this case when menses app. for first time after nursing.

During which as is usual no disch.

Does not app. that this female formerly subj to any such compl.

But not improb. that during course of pregn. uterus had undergn change.

For certain that these vessels subj to remark alterat

Some passing even from size of small fibres, to that even of goose [illegible ]

When this case perhaps rather surp. that again compl. contract to natur condit so often occurr.

And rather wonderful, that encr. disch does not oftener follow on return of cause prod menst.

But here gave rise to a disch very consid.

For before came under our care evac to greater or less degree had contin for three weeks.

And could have no doubt in attrib to this all other sympt.

For most of these as pain of back & belly, headach, weakness &e common & almost const. concom.

From these as well as from natur of affect itself, had reason to view it as of serious nature

For no doubt that patients often in end fall victims to it.

And if thus of long contin after first menst. though should now be stopt reason to dread recur. at future menst.

For in this way chiefly that at length gets better of constit

Return at each period in greatr quant & longer contin.

Hence I own from begining not without appreh of danger.

But these from circum since occuring still farther augm.

For would now app. that diseas of this patient contrary to what then imagin is attended with pecul.

At least this may reason inferr if acct given us accur or well founded.

For since attended here on Satur. last, disch soon had consid encr.

And with this, disch. diff bodies of consid size, each consist of memb. enclos. merely quant of water.

That is seemd to be hydatid.

These however merly describ not from what have seen but from acct. given me.

But if more disch. hope will be brought us for more partic exam.

Exist in simil tumours in uterus will necess prev. [cancer].

And hence vessels kept open & haemorh supp.

If therfore pecul dispos to [form] may prove sooner fatal than at first susp.

If on contr. haemor merely [rep] by these already disch, as in cases of abort. disch may prove [cause]

In this case consid haemorrh from begining as of passive kind.

Reckond it however proper to check it only in grad manner.

Hence had recourse to but weak astring.

On occur. however of more excess disch. reckond stronger necess.

Accord. had recourse to Pulv. [Sp]

And with view of allev. pain & allaying tend to action conj. mixt of vitriol acid with opiate.

Accord to effect of these & state of disease future pract must be regul.

If haem excess. strongr astring or applic of cold.

If ceases Peruv bark & [restor] proper vig to parts

But very much regul by occas