DEP/DUA/1/42/40 (Transcript version)

John Naiper

1787

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N^o8. Novr 13^th 1787

John Naiper at 20 a labourer is affected with a severe throbing pain in his left leg, which generally begins about the calf of the leg & extends from thence upwards to the top of the thigh. In consequence of this pain he is unable to walk with his usual ease. After walking for even a short time he feels a great sense of heat in the affected leg. After he remain at rest for any length of time he feels great difficulty in extending this leg. And he has also the same difficulty upon first rising in the morning. But after a little exercise this this difficulty is somewhat diminishd. The left inferior extremity is evidently shorter than the right, which appears to depend entirely on the position of the head of the thigh bone.

Pulse about 80 & natural, Belly regular, Some thirst, Appetite rather impaird, but his strength is not diminishd.

These complaints began about sixteen months ago & he attributes them to his having taken a draught of beer when very warm. Immediately after this he was seized with a shivering fit which extended over his whole body & continued for about two hours. This was succeeded by febrile symptoms for which he kept his bed for five weeks. From there he gradually recovered, but ever since that time he has been subjected to the present affection of his thigh. He is very confident that it did not originate from any accidental injury.

He has used many different applications to the part affected, such as a blister, spirits with Castile soap, Leeches, Camphorated spirit of wine &e. He has also employd bloodletting [&] various other remedies, but without deriving from them any benefit, excepting that he thought himself somewhat relievd by the blister. He employd sea bathing for about a month, but during that time he found his complaint much aggravated.

Hab. Ungt. Tereb. cum Opio ℥ ii. Illin. p. dol. & cap. Pil. ex Hyosciam grV om. m.

17

Has taken his medicines as directed, but his symptoms continue nearly as before.

Cont. Med. u. a.

24

Pain still continues as severe as before, particularly about the head of the Os femoris.

24

Cont Pil ex Hyosciam sed cap Pil. ii om. m. & Pil. i. om. m. Cont. etiam Ungt. Tereb. cum Opio u. a.

Decr 1.

Feels no uneasiness from the augmented dose of the Pil ex Hyosciam. He thinks the pain somewhat easier & he can walk with more facility.

Cont. Pil & Ungt. u. a.

8

Thinks his pains rather aggravated for these two days past which he ascribes to the variable weather

Cont. Pil & Ungt. u. a.

No8. Jo Naiper at 20.

15

His pain continues much as before, but he thinks that he now walks rather with greater facility.

Cont. Pil & Ungt. u. a.

22

Leg much as before

Cont. Pil. & Ungt. elic indies scint. elect. e crur. affecto.

29

The electricity has not yet been employd but he thinks his leg somewhat easier.

Cont. Med. u. a.

Janr 12

Has not yet had any opportunity of trying the electricity. Symptoms much as before.

Cont. Med. u. a