DEP/DUA/1/45/26 (Transcript version)

Barbara Dunn

(1788)

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Barbara Dunn at 36. N^o21

Formerly remarkd that in case of this patient a distinct markd inst of an interm

And when came under our care in form of Quotid.

But had at diff times assumd [others]

Not only Quotid, but Tert & Quar.

No reason however to believe that when thus variously modif any essent diff in nature.

And can only then repres it, as a long contin, & of course had reason to fear, an obst interm.

For interm very gener [most] easily comb. when cure soonest begun

Here however still entert hopes that in end should be able to comb. the disease.

For is one of these affect, which in this country at least, seld fatal.

Is an affect which we possess diff rem capab. of comb.

And here although of long contin had not prev resisted any more of cure.

On these grounds then expect of recov. founded.

And in these expect have not been disappointed.

For patient has now left us free from affect.

This however was not conseq of the remed first [trid], for remov of affect of pres. pat.

Began you will obs. by direct for this patient the use of Min. Solut.

For introd of this artic indebted to Dr Fowler of Stafford.

Had obs. in that neigh a quack med prep by some Lond. chem. often empl. in cure of interm, there a very freq & obst. disease.

That is, resist use of bark or req great quant for remov.

Hence a very expens med to the lowr class.

Found that by this nost. Tasteless ague drops, interm success removed at much less expens.

This therefore led him to anal. it with great care.

And from this analys. had every reason to believe that was a solut of Arsen.

Accord was pub. formula for a solut in every resp. simil.

This may be had at infin less expence, than sold by Lond chem.

And at same time, while reason to believe that in every resp same is cert not less effic.

This solut formd by dissolv. 60 gr. of Arsen. & as much fixd veget alk in a pound of distilld water

And to this merely with view to colour & flav. half an ounce of Spt. Lav. comp is added.

But for more partic acct of prep. as well as success which has atend empl, referr you to Dr Fowlers treat. Suff. here to obs. that has given [short] [view] of upward of 100 cases, in which empl with great success.

Since Dr Fowlers public have directed this artic in sever cases.

And in some with the desired effect.

Must howevr acknowl. that have always empl it with great [timid]

For no doubt that arsenic a subst of wonderf activ & delit even in very small quant.

Perhaps indeed, under form of [illegible] arsenic which here assumes, less dang. than in metallic state.

But at same time no less active. And accord when given in much [small] doses than Dr Fowl. empl, have sometimes seen very severe vomit from use.

This then, has led me, where have vent to empl it, to use it only in small quant.

Accord in a mucil mixt of ℥VI here diff it to quant only of gr.XII

That is to extent of 1 gr in ℥p. And this dose directed twice a day.

This indeed may be thought very little when consid that Dr Fowl. dose for adult ten or twelve drops.

But thought it better even to lose some time than prod inconv from vomit in end disapp. of benef of med.

Her med then taken without any inconv.

But cannot say that prod any change for better.

Fever indeed somewhat changed form.

For parox, after began use, in [place] of return every second day, [attacked] her every day.

And severity nothing dimin. This change in state of interm, in all prob. unconnected with any effect from the med.

And in all prob. merely such a variety as had often bef. occurd.

As however med prod of no bad affect, thought might without hesit be encr.

Accord, directed mixt to be formed, with double quant of Solut.

From this however, no more benef than former.

For still consid, as some accid circum that returned to former state, of parox every second day.

And parox thus return were nothing dimin in sever.

With these however obs. that much sickness & inclin to vomit [durin] cold stage.

This may very prob. have been altog unconn with med.

But at same time imag. that with this state of stom, improp to push use farthr.

[Resolvd] therfore, on trial of Peruv. Bark.

And as prep. to this, began by direct use of an Emet.

For am inclind to think, that always opr. most powerfully, when stom prev. empt.

Peruv Bark, in interm, need hardly obs. [exhib] in diff ways.

Some partic fond of use in large quant, imm before, others immed after fit.

But in both ways has often effect of excit vomit, when in smaller quant at a time easily retaind.

And although thus may perhaps throw in more Bark, than necess for cure, yet in my opin, both eas. for pat. & also most effect mode of exhib it.

Here therfore directed pat to begin with single tea spoonf after parox.

And to repeat this, every hour during interm, to consumpt of ℥ii.

Even from this quant. however interm not immed stopt.

A circum which may consid as in some degree proof of obstin.

For in major of inst, at least of milder interm, of this country that quant suff for cure.

Here however though disease not removd, yet med seemd to have had consid influ.

For parox both less freq, & slighter. Hoped therefore that by contin for short time longer, desir effect might be obt.

This however not case, so soon as expected.

For at succeed report, still found that fits cont.

And had now even [assumed], what reckond one of most obst. forms, that viz of Quartan.

While however not prod of effect of entirely remov interm, was followed by anoth conseq.

That viz of giving very bound state of belly.

An effect not unfreq. result from bark.

At least, while in some inst has effect of excit loosness, in other [inducing] constip.

And although latter, less unfav to operat than former, yet also to be avoided.

With dimin therefore of quant of bark, directed also the empl. of an aloet pill, at bed time

This prod of all effect that could have wishd.

This costiv compl. obv. without however any looseness being [induced].

But under dimin quant of bark, interm [back] more severe distress.

For had [severe] parox for two days success.

In this situat with contin of Pills augm of bark seemd necess.

In place therefore of one dram ordered it to quant of three in day.

And at succeed report found that a very fav change had taken place.

Had not only contin free from any parox during whole course of week, but found strength much better improved.

In so much that now consid diseas as compl. removed.

And in this situat as had [thought] of going to country dismissd her.

Furnishing her however with some bark, which might be taken occas.

And hope that by this means return for pres. at least prev.

But at same time if goes into any fenny part of country such for example as that where interm first caught, this hardly to be expected.

And best chance of compl. recov is by [remaining] for some length of time in high or dry [illegible]