DEP/DUA/1/44/11 (Transcript version)

Janet Calder

(1788)

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N^o11. Janet Calder at 35.

Disease of this patient consists almost entirely in affect of vision.

And that [two] without any obv. disease in eye.

Can therfore have no doubt in consid it as an ex. Amauros. or Gut. S.

That is dimin of vision from affect of nerves.

Or in other words, partial paralysis of this organ of sense.

With this, pains of head, such as descr. in case of our pat very freq. are conn.

While may readily suppose, that depr. of spirit will result as conseq. of loss of sight.

And from this depress. loss of app. & gener. debilit, very natur. ensues.

To this reason indeed, may be obj. that depr. of spirits, so far from being comm conseq of blindness, that blind people, more remark cheerf. than most others.

This however as far at least as my obs. goes, holds only with those either born blind, or losing sight at early period of life.

But not with those who have so long enjoyd sight, that can do nothing without it

At least with them, long time requis to be reconciled to want of it.

Hence may supp. that still cont to oper. with pres patient.

Accord to acct of our patient, pres disea effects of sudden action of cold, when much heated.

And this by no means an improb suppos.

But whether well grounded or not can have no hesit in consid disease when induced as obst.

And much doubt whethr any rem we can empl. will be of serv. to her.

As one however of what I think most prob. of cure, have had recourse to electri.

[From] which, am much deceivd, if in diff affect of paral. kind & among others in some inst of Amauros., have not seen very consid benef.

Here howevr extremely doubtful [wheth] patient will give it fair trial.

But if does & if in end fails may at least make trial, of Camphr of Arnica, or of Mercur.

To all which has at least been said that in some inst amaur has yeilded.