DEP/DUA/1/44/15 (Transcript version)

James Sutherland

(1788)

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N^o15 Jas Sutherland at 44.

In sympt enum in hist. of this have not distinct charact of any one partic affect.

And am I own at a loss what judgm to form of nature of disease.

Can however be no doubt that at least a consid part of sympt. are of what may be calld nerv. kind.

As such may consid not only trem & vertigo but even lassit & debili.

And perhaps still more than any of them depress of spirits to which subj.

In these though cannot be said to have charact of Hypochond. have yet some of most comm. sympt.

And is a disease which well known to app under very various forms.

And often attended with very great numb of diff. sympt.

Of these however chief are affect of alim canal & of ment. facul.

Latter partic app. under form of great deject of spirits.

And of uncom. & indeed unreason appreh of danger.

While at same time besides indigest eructat, flatul & like, pain & oppress at [paeric.] vertigo, trem, opp. & debilit among most comm. sympt.

Upon whole then disp to view this as a case of incip Hypoch.

And not improb. that during [course] of attend shall soon find many other sympt.

Must however be allowed that at pres not decidedly markd.

And that even at pres. some sympt occur which can hardly be consid as part of hypoch.

Such for ex as cough dyspn & expect

This it is not improb. may be a slight catarrh affect.

And with hypochond. other comp may readily be compl.

Among others those of catarrh kind very freq. are.

Hence this not to be consid as any obj to suppos.

With view of disease now given cannot look for speedy cure.

For well known that hypoch. though not a danger. yet a very obs disease.

And indeed great part of disease a belief of distr. which much more diffic to overcome than real ailm.

Here therefore expect to do little more than allev.

And this chiefly to be accompl. by obviating urgent sympt.

Sometimes however pract may also be empl. to restore due mobilit to syst.

And always of adv. as far as can be done to counteract occas. causes.

On these grounds then mean to attempt cure in pres inst.

And is chiefly with former first intent that have had recourse to foetid Pil with Aloe

An artic often used with great adv.

With second may empl. Camph or Valer. which perhaps to be ranked among most powerf of tribe of Nerv med.

And in obv causes must be directed by occurr.

But of these or any other pract which which may empl. shall after speak of at [illegible] [time]