DEP/DUA/1/46/01 (Transcript version)

David Sheriff

(1789)

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N^o1

David Sheriff at 29 a [Sailor]

Of the disease of this patient no room for doubt.

That there exists a worm in intest canal, & that this worm of Taenia kind, can admit of no doubt not be denied

This incontrov. provd by joints which daily, nay we may say alm every hour, disch by anus.

And although at pres. hardly affected with any other sympt. yet can neither venture to pron it a slight disease, nor even free from danger.

In partic remarked for [obstin.] in so much, that by some held even to be incurable.

And although often contin for many years, without any great incon, yet sometimes & that suddenly too, prod of great inconv, in diff ways.

Partic giving rise to wasting of habit, loss of strength, severe pains of bowels, & even fatal convuls.

But in estim danger, as well as obstin, has been thought necess to ascert, not only genus of worm, but also spec of Taenia pres.

For by at least greatest part of natural, contended that diff species of Taenia, at times to be met with in human intest canal.

Partic two disting by names of Taenia Cucurbit or gourd worm, & Taenia lata or Tape worm.

Of these two, former consid as by much most obstin, & danger.

In so much, that Dr [Herrenswand] Mad Nouffer, & others, contend that their remed an obtin a certain cure for one, but not for other.

And partic in acct of Mad N. med, pub by author of French Govern, have drawing of both spec.

Must own, that was never able to discov diff species of Taenia, accord to descript of Linnaeus.

For with him, disting mark taken from posit of mouths.

And while describes Taenia lata to be osculis marginalibus, affirm that lateralibus his mark of Taenia Solum or Curcurbitinas is osculis marginalib.

But in all I have ever seen, only openings which could be consid as mouths, entirely marginal.

Judging however from resemb. to plates, in Treatise mentiond, imag. that had seen both.

And have often exhib those cont. in phials on table, one as species of Taenia lata or tape worm, the Taenia articulis longioribus.

The other again as specimen of Taenia Cucurbit the Gourd worm or Taenia artic longior brevioribus.

Must however own that what has some time ago happ in case of patient before us has with me created doubts with respect to this distinct.

For now convincd that same worm may have diff app. at diff parts of length

+ And that such inst do occurr may I think with confid be inferrd

At one part exact resemb. to Taenia artic longiorib

At another to Taenia articulis brevioribus.

This I think proved by Taenia disch by Dav. Sheriff when last under our care.

And this therefore have also put upon table for examin.

But although such inst may occur would not deny that these may be cases where worm entirely of one or other app.

>+

At same time such instances as pres. at least serve to render prognos from examin of mere fragm a more doubtful matter.

As far however as prognos here to be drawn from fragm, would lead us rather to give unfav opin.

For resemb. of single joints to seeds of Cucumb. would be led to concl. that his an inst of Taenia Cucurb. the most diff to remov.

And to same conclus also led from attend to what has already hap with this patient.

For when formerly under care, was I own somewhat disapp in expect of obt. compl. cure.

At that time, upon use of Pulv. Stanni a very large fragm brought away.

And that fragm termin in what had at least some app of filum.

A circum always consid as [demn] compl remov of animal.

Is indeed true that filum very short, at least when comp to drawing figure alluded to.

But imagind that a longer filum might also have been disch. & neglected, or not obs. by our pat.

After this part disch, pat for space even of sever months did not obs. even single joint

A circum tending somewhat at least to corrob. idea of compl. remov.

Yet must acknowl. that in former inst. have seen disch again [comm] after nothing of it has been seen discov. for space of three months.

And how long interv necess before can venture to affirm that cure compl. must own, cannot pretend to say.

In pres inst. evid app. that some portion of worm still remaind.

And probab. that smallest, even single joint suff. again to gener worm of any length

What has already happ. therefore serves at least to rend hopes of radic cure less sanguine.

At the same time pat a vigor man, anx to get rid of disease.

And may therefore afford us at least opp of making trial of diff active med.

After case taken directed for him mixt of bitter & aromat tinct.

From this no other view, but that of [recruit] & strength alim canal [after] after Tin & Purgat before empl.

With view to radic cure, is intent here in first place to give fair trial to remed of [Herrenschwand], Gamb & veget alk.

And if this fails next to have recourse to Mad Nouff. specif. the Fern powder.

If disapp in both a variety of other pract to which accord to circum recour may be had.

Partic Elect. Camph. Aether & Corr Sub.

And hope that by some one may be able if not to affect compl. disch at least to bring off anoth large fragm.