DEP/DUA/1/40/48 (Transcript version)

James Brown

1786

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James Brown. Decr 16^th 1786.

In case some complic of sympt

But cheifly affect of alim canal.

Accord. formerly ment as case of Dysp.

This gener. term however taken in very extens sense.

Includes all diff modif of stom ailm

At least where no local cause.

And here notwith sever pain no reason to susp. such.

For no local hardness to be discov.

Had been but of short standing

And prob conseq of abraded state from severe loosness preced.

And in this also cause of dimin tone.

These conj at least to irrit state am inclind to think most freq morb. condit in dysp affect.

At same time far from being only ones.

In partic inclind to think that often from state of secret.

No doubt that powerful menst sep in stom.

That in natur condit cheif agent in digest

That subj to diseased state both in quality & quant.

And that from these many diff modif of stom ailm, whether under form of Dysp. [Diapep] or [Apep] may [arise]

But of such a cause no indicat in inst before us.

Nor as already said of any fixd local disease.

Hence formerly inclined to give fav. progn.

And still I own disp to same op.

Cannot however say that progr to recov. consid.

But upon whole stom compl allev.

And hopeful that in no long time entirely remov.

These however not only compl.

Affected also with cough.

Attended with expect of viscid matter.

And espec. severe in morn.

In these comm charact of chron catar.

A disease very comm at this [seasn].

And partic with pat. adv in life.

Indeed at age of 66 might get nam of Senilis [Catr].

An appel. by which often distin.

But improp. as by no means conf to adv. age.

No doubt that pat. also subj to this affect.

And although of same date yet inclin to view them as unconn.

For this a rare occurr

And as so freq. exist separ. no reason to think that one can oper. as a [cause] of other.

In pres inst uncert. resp cause of either.

Consider it howevr as prob. that dyspep. affect conseq of loosness.

And not improb also that by diarr syst. rend more suscep of infl. of cold.

For to this accord. to [concurr]. test of all obs. little doubt in attrib [cat]

Hence freq. in winter.

And hence advant which those habit liab to it obt. from passing winter in warmer clim or keeping house in cold weather.

But though this affect existed yet never with pres pat. consid.

Had not with him been before habit disease.

And even before app. for our assist had somewhat subsid.

Hoped therefore that even notwith unfav season would soon yeild.

And accord. hardly obj of atten in pract.

These almost entirely [direct] to Dysp.

On idea given chiefly expect. recov from strength tone.

And for this purp. recourse to an artic often before emp. with advan.

A mixt of veget bitters & aromat.

Prescrb under title of Mist Tinct. Arom.

Consist of equal parts of Tinct. Arom Tinct Amar. & Water.

First of these strong & most [qualit] of veget aromat.

Cinnam Cardam & Pepp

While seemd some of strong & purest of veget. Bitters

Gent. Cort. Aurant &e

For extr of both however Spir. menst.

And both from this & artic thems before use some dilut.

Hence addit of water.

And in this form as already said have often used with adv.

From comm of use felt at least no inconv.

And upon whole somewhat [easier].

Still however compl a good deal of fixd pain.

From this led to trial of opiate

Than which as allaying pain of every kind no remed more effect.

Hence with contin of mixt directed Opium under form of Pil Theb.

To extent of gr X – viz 1 of Opium

In this form united with [Pep] [illegible ] one of best corrigen

And given at bed time [from] sleep ill in night.

At first seemd prod of benef in every way.

Consid relief of Cough & Pain.

And without any inconv from Costi.

But succeed report not so fav.

For stom compl. much as bef.

And had now ind. bound belly.

Besides slept worse in night.

An effect not unfreq. arise from Opiat

Espec. [where] dose not augm.

From these consid then led to interm

And directed contin of mixt alone.

At succeed report found slept better

Some proof that [wakef] effect of Pills.

Or at least that no effect as induc. sleep.

And that with this intent not necss.

Now however strength consid encr.

A proof that stom compl. [decreas]

But belly still bound, though Pil [en]

Thought it necess therfore to do something with view of mov.

For this purp. thought aloet purg. best.

But as imag. pains in part from flat. conj. with assafoet.

Pil. Foetid cum Aloe. p.a.

These hope will have des. effect.

And that by contin affect remov.

If in this disapp. however have thoughts of conj of Cicuta & Bark.

Or of Caustic alk Lix. a remed of which no exper.

But of late informd of success.