DEP/DUA/1/43/14 (Transcript version)

Jean Robertson

(1787-1788)

---

Jean Robertson. At 36. N^o18

Of case of this patient reckon it now necess to say very but little.

For can hardly be said to have be subj of pract here.

Has never returned since first praescript.

Shall merely therefore state in few words intent in view in pract proposed.

Will readily obs. from hist of case that subj to compl of affect.

And matter of doubt how far these were to be consid as conn.

And also matter of doubt whether some partic sets were idiopath or symptom.

[Two] however which consid as chiefly deserv attent. were Pneum & Dyspept

To first were to be referrd pain of side & breast, cough, dysp. & diff expect of viscid mucus.

To the second distent of stom. cardialg, nausea, vomit, perhaps also headach, vertigo & even [sup]

These therefore consid as first & princip obj of attent.

Was with view to these that begun of by direct for patient the use of an Emet.

This I need hardly obs. a very common pract. both in Dyspep. & Catar affect.

For here consid pneum compl. of patient as entirely of Catarrh. kind.

In this affect most urgent symp of the disease immed conseq of viscid mucus coll. in air vesic of lungs.

Hence though perman relief only to be expectd from reducing secret to natur stand, yet most imm ease from disch mucus already accum.

And nothing by which this purp. more effect answ. than Emet.

For although cannot agree with those who consid actions of cough & vomiting as only expect. yet allow that are most powerful.

Accord where fruitless efforts to exp. by coughing; vomiting often as it were spon excited.

A remark ex of its expect. power in inst of pertussis.

And every day success. used as prod large disch of mucus.

But besides answ this purpose often also useful in catarh on [anoth] ground

Well known that by action of vomiting very powerful determin given to surface.

And that circulat prev obstr. [thus] renewed through small vessels.

When thus renewed however often contin afterwards by powers of syst itself.

And from free circul on surface great benef. may be exp. in Catarh.

Is from prod this effect, that to acct for benef which those subj to the disease derive from wearing flan. shir

Is from this, that to expl. benef. which derive from keeping house during winter.

And to this, are to ascribe advant of passing winter in a steady & warm climate.

From free circulat on surface that at intern parts, partic lungs often dimin.

And thus secret restored to natur stand.

Hence with catarh patients diff grounds on which benef may be exp. from emet.

Accord. not merely empl. for a single time, but freq. repeatd.

And as circum may require given at end of six, eight, or ten days with advant.

But while thus useful in [catar] are also in Dyspep.

In that disease from slow & diffic digest there natur occurs [collect] of viscid mucus in stom.

And from state of [ferment] which goes on, colect of acid or of acrid & [putres] matter.

Hence relief derivd [from] spon vomiting, one indeed of most comm sympt of the disease.

Thus as well as in cases of catarrh naturally indic in this affect.

And prin upon which they operate that viz of unloading stom is very evident.

Here however much more than in catarh. benef tempor. merely.

And from freq. repet. even with this intent, have reason to [dread] [rather] bad conseq.

For no doubt that by action of vomiting tone of stom weakned.

And of course all the sympt of Dyspep. augm.

Accord. have met with cases, in which I think have seen them manif prejud.

This however no obj to use for single time.

Nor even to repetit when sympt urgent.

While however with these intent directed the Emet, had also recourse you will obs. to anoth med.

A six ounce mixt viz consist of equal parts of Bitter & Aromat. Tinct.

And to these directed that these should be added. Vin. Nicot ℥ i.

In two former, the bitter & arom. Tinct, have, need hardly obs. what consid among best of stom med.

And can be no doubt that often useful both as prom digest, expelln wind & strength tone of stom.

Latter however Vin. Nicot. meant with a view to Catarrh.

This artic in that disease at [least] but lately introd into pract.

For its introd indebted to Dr Fowler of Stafford.

Has written a treatise prof. on subj medic reports on use of Tobacco.

Has there from [numb]. facts dem its diuret. power.

And accord recomm its empl. in Drop. Dysur. & other affect where these indic.

Since that pub. have myself [fully] empl. it.

And from my own exper consid it as one of the best diuret with which acq.

Great obj. indeed to use rests

And am inclind to think that [em] on this prin, to acct for adv from it in Phthis Catarh of chron kind.

An affect in which have often empl it with adv.

Great obj to use is sickness which excites.

But as in case of Digit this prob. not ess. to Diur. power.

And accord with view of counter. it here conj it with Bitt & Arom Tinc.

But of effects have heard [nothin]