DEP/DUA/1/44/35 (Transcript version)

Mary Thorborn

(1788)

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N^o8. Mary Thorborn at 26.

When formerly spoke of case of this pat repres it as in some degree doubtful.

But very appreh that should find it danger & even fatal

For although then had not marks of decided Phthis, at least strong pres. of this.

And that occurring as sequela of influenza.

Then remarkd that influenza of 1782, had been prod of many Phthis.

But that pres inst first which had occurrd in my pract from that cause.

Cannot however now add that is only one.

For since occur of cold weather have met with sever others.

And some of these have even [allr.] fallen vict to the disease

Still however inclind to think last epid, more slight both during contin & in conseq than former.

But among other cases may now I think justly enum pres. as example of Phthis origin from it.

For during course of patients attend almost every doubt of [nature] of disea removed.

And when last heard of this pat. could have no hesit. in repres Phthis as having made even an alarm progr.

Have not indeed seen any thing of this patient for some length of time.

And should not I own be surp to learn, that has already fallen victim to her disease.

Not many days ago lost Patient of Phthis conseq on Influ, where of Ulcer. kind.

For after sympt indic Phthis in [illegible] of Vomica very large purul. disch.

Soon after which patient fell victim to Hectic fever

Must however remark, that although consid every modif of Phth as highly danger, yet at least best chance of recov where of catarrh kind.

And from quantit of expect as well as from origin of compl. concl. this to be case in pres inst.

For of diff cases of Phthis which I have seen arising from catarrh Influen most if not all of catarh kind.

That is where reason to conclude purul separat merely from scurf of lungs.

Would be very far however from ventur to assert that this univ the case.

On contr. little doubt I think, that Influ, as well as either Small P. or Measles, may give rise to Scroph aff.

And thus usher in even most rapidly fatal spec of Phthis, the tuberc

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But whatever has been or may be fate of patient cannot repres her as benef by any pract which we here empl.

Although when first came under care did not look upon case as decided ex of Phth. yet on pres of that affect had recourse to a remed which have I think in some inst empl. with benef.

Partic in inst of Catarh. Phthis viz the Gym Myrrh.

This as a remed even in tuberc Phthis, of late highly extolld by diff. pract.

Partic by Dr Saunder, Dr Griffith.

But for most full acct of it yet pub. may referr you to treatise lately pub. on subj of Phthisis by Dr Simmons.

Will [there] find that notwith evils said to arise from healing balsams in gener. by Dr Fother & others, yet on concur. test of diff pract this sometimes prod of good effects.

To testim of other pract can I think also add my own.

At least, much deceivd if in some cases which strongly susp to be Phthis, have not seen good effects from it.

And where patient in end recov.

Must however add that recov. I have seen from Phthis. comp speaking very few.

And neither by Gum Myrrh, nor any other artic, could rapid progr to fatal termin be prev.

Still however am acquainted with no pract, from which have upon whole seen greater benef.

And what have seen suff. I think to encour to future trials.

At least till more effect remed dis. Gum Myrrh in Phthis, sometimes given alone.

More freq. however in combin with some other artic.

Dr Griffith one of Gent ment. recom its combin with salt of steel.

Dr Simmons again advises [illegible] with nitre.

But as far as my own exper. goes have seen more benef. from combin with Cream of Tart than any other artic.

And accor. union of equal parts of Gum Myrrh & Crem Tart, form comp. powder used at the Disp.

To this taken to extent of tea spoonf. twice a day had recourse in pres. inst.

And this at comm at least consider as medium dose.

For in some inst disagrees with patient exciting loosness.

And when this the case in place of Cream of Tart sometimes advant given in comb. with Succ Japon.

Sometimes obliged entirely to [omit] use.

Here however when first given at least prod of no bad affect.

For cough & dysp. rather easier.

But compl. of bad rest during night.

From this led to conj with the Myrrh an anod at bed time which hoped might both mitig cough & proc. sleep.

But notwith use of Opium loosness superveend.

This was not I own inclind to supp on effect of Myrrh.

For should rather in that case have exp. it during first week.

And when now hap. patient using an opiate.

When came on sympt in every other respect worse.

Lookd upon it rather therefore as dearth of colliq kind.

But in any view occurd as obj to farther empl of Myrrh.

With contin therefore of opiate directed merely Infus Japon to obv [diarh].

And Saturn ointm for excoriat occas by urine.

Under these med, some sympt, [part] looseness a little allev.

But in every other respect patient rather worse.

Partic colliq sweatings & quickness of pulse

In this situat did not think I could do better than to cont.

But have now seen nothing of this patient for more than a month past.

And as formerly obs. not improb. that has already fallen vic to the disease.

But if on contr. disease has taken turn for better, is to be ascr. much more to operat of nature than to any remed here empl.