DEP/DUA/1/41/08 (Transcript version)

George Brickford

1787

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George Brickford. Febr 17 87.

Formerly great uncert.

And obs. that if fairly repres. [pecu]

Now however think that this not so much case.

And that affect in great meas. founded in imag. of patient.

At least in as far respects pecul feeling in abdom.

In acct given of this do not believe that patient intended to deceive us.

For could see no obj to be [achiev] by it.

But had once you will obs. disch a worm from descript of lumb. kind.

Cont still to be affect with app rather [vorac]

A sympt very freq. arising from worms.

From this led to firm [belie] that othe worms still exist.

And to this belief am inclind to think, that sensat he described very much to be referrd.

For in such cases feelings easily created by imagin.

And that sense of gnawing & creeping here descr. of this [kind] had afterw much reason to believ from acct gave

And while contin under our care, not affected with other sym ment in case vertigo deliq or like.

When first came under care thought suppos of worms not imp.

And imag. that best ascert by trial of anthelm from which nothing at least to be feared.

Had therfore at first recourse to Semen Santon.

And afterw to a gentle Mercu

But from neither one nor other though followd by brisk cathr did any worms app.

Concl. therefore with some confid that none existed.

And as far as had uncom app. or pecul. sensat. in abd. consid it as effect of uncom sensib in intest.

Imag. that this might in some degree be removed by strength tone of alim canal.

An affect often obt from use of veget bitters & aromat.

And with this view had recourse to one which have often empl. with advant.

A mixt viz of Tinct. Aromat & Amar.

In prepar of these need hardly obs. that a spirit menst is empl.

And from this accord to acct given us a very pecul effect prod.

Is you will obs. ment in hist of case, that from use even of small quant of spirits remark affect of urin disch.

Partic that of blackish app & obs to contain calcar. bodies.

This I own an affect which had never before seen or heard of as result from such a cause

And accord formerly ment it as a circum which totally at loss to expl.

And as improp subj of specul till truth ascertaind.

To this compl. not in any degree subj from time that came under care.

Was not to be imag. that unless induced from some other cause would bring it on by use of Spt.

And while avoided these had remaind entirely free.

Hardly I own imag. that would have recurr. from small quantit of spirits in mixt.

But had no sooner begun use than told that scarcit of urine was conseq.

And in this I own hardly then could be deceived.

To me I acknow. app very [extraord] occur.

Yet imposs. to say what effect pecul impress on alim canal may have.

Well ascert that with some secret of urine even affected by impress arising from cert. sounds.

And in this case, some such pecul. sympath as may be calld may have taken place.

Here however in whatever way be expl. cure obv. by giving up spirits

And while ordered mixt to be omitted, directed use of small quant of Magnes & Rhub. rather by way of Placebo than any thing else.

During use of this urine contin perfectly free.

And all other sympt soon so far relievd that thought farther attend unnecess.

Upon whole consider princip part of compl. while under our care as affects of imagin.

But in effect of urine one of those pecul [idiosyncr.] sometim to be met with