DEP/DUA/1/45/38 (Transcript version)

Alexander Murray

(1789)

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Alexr Murray at 15. N^o27.

Formerly obs. that prin part of affect of this pat, [consist] evid of stom ailm.

But that doubtful whether to be consid as an ex of Dyspep. strictly so calld, or of Hypochond.

Affect prob. diff, a good deal in nature.

Yet in many partic expec evid sympt. nearly appr. to each other.

Here obs. that many diff partic, seeming rather to fav suppos of Hyp.

Partic depress of spirits, sense of coldness & contin of compl.

And to these also, might have added, temperam of pat, as discov by obv. circum.

For was of that dark. complex. black hair, & rough skin, which gener. consid as marking melanchol temper.

But notwith presumpt from these partic. one circum which consid as very much against that suppos.

Age viz of patient.

Was only, you will obs, in 15^th year. Hypochond howevr very rarely [illegible] but with those adv in life.

And indeed seld occurs before 50^th. This however can by no means repres as univ the case.

For even in my own pract. have at least met with one inst of contr.

A gentleman viz of [fashion] & family not yet 30, now subj to distinct markd hypochond for more than [doz] of [year]

But such cases may justly be consid as solit inst.

And here was disp. to view [effec] merely as Dyspep, perhaps partic modif from occur with melanch temp.

That is, viewd stom ailm, not as conseq of Torpor, or want of due disp to action, but of weak & even irritat state of alim canal.

And as far as had afterw opport of judging, this view of the disease, rather conf. than otherwise.

Here, as means of allev stom ailm, & at same time opening belly, had recourse to a mixt of Magnes & Rhub.

Need not remark, that in [former], have one of best absorb. [earths]

And while [destr.] [acid] in stom from forming with that acid a neutr. salt, operat often as a cathart.

Almost in every inst has effect rather of open belly than otherwise.

In Rhub. again have one of [restoring] purgat.

Which while operates as gentle laxat. has tend to strengh tone, of stom & bowels.

Thus then, from this conj. where prev acid the conseq. of weak state of stom, whethr attend with costiv or diarrhoea, often attended with obtain best effect.

And partic. in acid of infants. For even at that period of life in daily use not only with safety but adv.

With pres pat was at least prod of no inconv.

And may even I think say, that attended with some advant.

For had at least effect of open belly.

But notwith this other sympt contin as before.

Thought it right therefore, to try some other stom med, with view of encr. tone & action of stom.

And with this intent, had recourse to some of best vegetab. bitters & arom under form of tinct.

This however thought it prop at least, in some degree to dilute.

For with those unaccust. to it the effect of undilut menst often [distr].

After began use of this mixt, stom compl. in short time somewhat allev.

And what might be consid as strong evid of this app. mended.

While at same time contin to have regul disch.

With these app. could have no hesit, in direct contin of same pract.

And although did not contin altog free from return either of pain, or sourness, yet in sev respcts much better.

Partic belly natur, sleept well & had good app.

After finding him, in this state however, have now seen nothing of him for some time past.

And would fain hope, that dessert conseq of having not farther occas for assist.