DEP/DUA/1/46/10 (Transcript version)

Agnes Henderson

(1789)

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N^o10. Agnes Henderson at 2.

Of disease of this patient am I own at loss to form any decided op.

And here I think equal diffic in forming proper conject either of name or nature.

Does not in my opin corresp. either with definit of Histor of Asthma, Dysp. or any other of affect in which respir. the funct prin diseased.

And although are told proceeded from cold, & began under form of hoarseness, yet can as little consid it as an inst of Aphor. Catarhus, or like.

In some respects when patient under fit, resemb to a disease well [know] in the country under name of Croup.

What consid by most writers as a species of Asthma, but referrd by Dr Cul. to genus of Cynanche.

And disting by title of Cynanche trachealis.

But from this affect. into hist of which, would at pres. be foreign to our bus to enter differs also in [most] essent partic.

At least no doubt that does so from disease ordin known by title of Croup in the country.

But at same time under this title am inclind to think that diseases diff very much in nature have been [compreh.]

Indeed the name given to every inst of diffic respirat attended with peculiar noise.

And this from what have seen in actual pract. I am conv. may proceed from diff. causes.

Hence diversity in descript given of it.

Most frequently is effect of a cause in some degree fixd & of consid perman.

And such the Cynache [illegible] describd by Dr [Crawf] in inaug. dissert

But in other inst entirely effect of spasm at head of Trachea.

And such again the Asthma inf. cum rauca voce & respiratione sibila describd by Dr Simson in his inaug. dissert.

But to neither of these can case of pres patient which has now subsist for space of month be consid as by any means exactly corresp.

And as far as I can judge from own exper. am inclind to look upon it as an anom affect.

Perhaps best disting by gener. title of pecul modif of Asthma.

And as far as can form any probab. conj of nature, consid as depend on spasm affect occurring in muscles of larynx.

At least this suppos, seems to me better to expl. phaenom than any other.

For by volunt effort contracting these muscles, can in some degree prod. both labor respir & pecul noise which here occurr.

Among other phaenom somewhat singul may perhaps ment. fits generally recurring through day & never in night.

This very diff from some other diseases affect respir, partic the proper spasm asthma, & pertussis.

For these especially lattr by much most viol in the night.

Then fits of coughing with inordin action giving hooping, both most freq & most severe.

From this analogy therefore, might here also, be led to expect aggrav. durng night.

But while pres case contrary, does not diff from all spasm diseases.

Thus for inst in Chorea, where inord actions in almost all volunt muscles during course of day, yet unless where disease very severe state of perf rest during night.

To this then consid inord action here suppose to take place, as most analog.

But without farther conject as to name or nature of disease shall only add, that equally at loss both with respect to prognos & pract.

On idea however given of nature should look upon it as more alarm than danger.

Is also on this idea that have begun pract by an emet. & [oily] [mixt]

My intent in view by these shall afterwards more fully expl. when again speak of case.

May only at pres add that if disapp. have thoughts of trying vitriol aether or valer.

But in this must be regul by circ.