DEP/DUA/1/45/36 (Transcript version)

Kitty Ord

(1789)

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N^o26 Kitty Ord. at 10^th

Formerly expressed doubts with regard to case of this patient.

But upon whole disp. to consid fits to which subj as of epilep. kind.

To this led not so much from app. of fits themselv as from othr circum

Partic from age at which here occurd.

From presumpt. that at first at least derivd origin from worms.

But above all from total abolit of sense occurr during their course.

During time for which has been under care cannot indeed say that this opin has been conf.

At same time nothing has occur to inval. it.

And now no less inclind to it than before.

Began treatm here by direct for this patient the use of Calx of Zinc comb. with Valer.

In formr of these an artic of late much empl in epilep cases.

Prob. first empl in this affect by [Ludeman.] a Dutch empyr. who empl. used it under name of Luna fixata.

Afterw recomm by Gaub. who anal. the nost. of [Luddem.]

And still farther test of success. by van Dovern.

On these authort. extens empl.

But found inadeq to cure of greater part of Epilep.

And faild so often that not a few disp to consid it as of no effic.

For my own part am fully persuad. that a major of epilep. will be found incur either by this or by any other rem. with which yet acq.

Yet from my own exper, am much [deceved], if have not often seen benef from it.

Sometimes in cases of Epilep but still more freq. in Hystr affect.

On what prin oper. can hardly vent to say.

But not improb. that influ in part at least if not prin depends on tonic power.

For by this means dimin morb. irritab giving tend to inord action.

And without this well known that excit causes often incap of prod effect.

Here exhib Zinc as comb with Valer.

An artic well known to have very in consid influ on whole nerv syst.

And which although med prop. also matter of disp with some is I think justly ranked among tribe of antispas. med.

Have often been inclind to think that from combin powers of both [encr].

With pres patient however this did not seem to be case.

For from almost every dose of powd consid sickness at stom [ind].

And very freq vomiting.

When this case however could not expect from them any material benef.

And as conj. that might be effect of Valer accord neithr freq nor sever of fits in any degree dimin.

Here thought it not improb. that sickness might be conseq of Valer.

And before desert Zinc thought it at least prop to try how far could be born alone.

Wishd also to give it in manner in which would act more slowly on stomach.

Hence directed it under form of pills made with crumb of bread.

In this form Zinc taken nearly to same extent as before.

And now at least no vomiting or even sickness from use.

Did not however shew any influ in comb. the disease.

For fits still as freq & as severe as before

But here consid benef not at once to be expected.

And hoped that by persist in use benef might be obt.

But besides this thought it advis also to try anoth pract.

With other sympt, had some of those, consid as indic pres of worm in alim canal.

Partic grinding of teeth, & picking of nose

And upon a formr occas with simil sympt. had disch some worm from [describ] of ascarid kind.

Well known however, that from irrit of worm in intest, epilep [illegible] not unfreq proceed.

Hence then seemd advis to try some anthelm med.

As by this, if any worms pres, some of them at least, would be disch.

Was with this intent that directed inject of Lime water.

Which in my opin one of easiest, safest & most effect remed against Asc.

Partic if which genr. case, they be entirely situated about rect.

Here however, from repeated use, no worms obs to be disch.

A circum, which I consid, as at least strong evid, that none existed.

Now howevr under farth contin of Zinc, fits still cont as freq as bef.

And at same time compl. much of sickness at stom.

This, perhaps howevr without good reason, she herself disp to attrib to the pills.

Reckond it therefore imp to persist in empl.

And accord in place of these resolvd to make trial of Vitriol Aethr.

An artic which need hardly remark one of most powerful & immed antisp. with which acq.

And although effect more sudden than perman, yet often useful at least as anticip fits.

Here directed it, in comb. with a mucil mixt

Which at once serves both to cover taste, & to prev loss from volat

This med, seems to have been attend with obv. benef.

For very soon after began use, both freq & sever of fits dimin.

And in short time entirely ceasd.

Then compl only of sense of coldness with some headach.

In this situat seemd improp to contin med.

For well known that by habit artc of this kind lose influ.

Hence then in place of Aether directed merely mixt with vegetab. bitters & aromat.

This hoped might have some effect, as strength tone of alim canal & thus of syst in gener.

And by this means, dimin tend to fits.

In this expect however disap. For under use fits became as freq as before.

Prob. howevr not in any degree conseq of remed empl, but of want of Aether.

Led therefore to direct repet.

And in order to secure advant [which] might obt. ordered that should at sam time empl. Cap. Ammon, under form of pills.

An artic which in diff. epilep cases, have not unfreq. empl with adv.

And which as [empl.] with two other epilep under care, Torrence & Watt, shall afterw have occas to ment.

Here may only obs. that since these med begun, fits upon whole very few & slight.

And not without hopes that by persist in empl. cure may be accomp

At same time, hardly to look for uninterrup progr.

As upon slight accid. recurr to be expectd.

Yet upon whole pat at pres app benef by med