DEP/DUA/1/46/13 (Transcript version)

George Gray

(1789)

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N^o12. George Gray at 48.

Respecting disease of this patient somewhat doubtful.

Very evid indeed that chief seat of disease in chest.

But here some diffic as to cause on which depends.

This disease attrib to action of external cold.

And has common sympt of Catarh, cough & dyspn.

An affect very common with lower class, in this country, & at this season.

But to this an [insup] obj. that not attended with the viscid expect or charact catarh.

And in that disease, on augm secret of mucus, both cough & dysp. depend.

Same sympt however may arise also from other causes.

And partic from water effused either into cavit of chest, or into cellul memb. of lungs.

In one case constit hydrothor in the other anas of lungs.

And here I own, inclind to conj. that pat lab under one or other of these diseases.

Of two suppos howevr am rather disp. to latter.

For here, all these circum consid, as more pecul charact hydroth, are wanting.

Such for ex as sudden [shat] from sleep

Irregul of pulse, remark palpit.

And capab of sleeping only when stooping forward.

Must however be allowed that hydrothor a deceitful disease.

And that has often even proved fatal, when these wanting.

Hence then would by no means posit assert, that does not here exist.

But at same time, some degree of Anasar affect lungs, a more com compl.

And this I appreh, fully adeq to expl. of all pres sympt.

For readily gives rise, both to sense of tightn in breast, dry cough, difficult of breathing, & wheezing noise in respir.

As addit evid also of some drop affect, may mention, swelling of legs & scarcit of urine.

And whether incip [hydrocph], or anas of lungs treatm very much the same.

Here first obj at least, the [eva] of water.

And this in case of prest pat mean in first place to attempt by diuret.

As such, have here had recourse to Vin Nicot.

And seems at least so far to have answrd expect.

But of this, & other pract, reserve obs. till again speak of case.

May only obs. that if not soon relievd shall prob have recourse to [blist]

And perhaps to trial of digitalis