DEP/DUA/1/47/41 (Transcript version)

Robert Milln

(1790)

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N^o25 Robt Milln at 42.

In case of this patient as formerly remarkd had evid ex of Haemoptys.

And could neither be consid as [entir] of active or passive kind.

This evid app. from blood not rising spont to mouth, or being evac by mere tussicula.

And at same time from sever of cough not being such as could of [itsel] induce haemorrh.

From this then led to think that cough had consid infl. as immed inducing it.

But that prod of this effect only in conseq of diseased state prev exist in lungs.

This case of Haemopty, am inclind to think by no means rare.

And during future attend of patient no reason to alter conj with respect to it.

Cannot however same as [illegible] respect prognos.

For on view now given was disp to look upon it as very danger.

As laying foundat viz for Phthisis.

For may remark that Haemopty. rarely fatal from mere loss of blood.

And is chiefly from prev morb. condit of lungs that degen into Phth

In this respect however appreh with respect to pres patient agreeab. disapp.

At least have been able to see no tend to Phthisis

And when dismissd from farther attend here, not only free from bloody expect, but also from some other alarm sympt. partic night sweats.

How far however this recov. the affect of med here empl. perhaps matter of doubt.

At least will occurr to you that remed here chiefly empl. by no mean an active one.

A mixt viz of equal parts of G. Tragac. Starch & Sugar.

And these taken only to quant of a tea spoonful thrice a day.

This remedy had not before empl in any simil case.

And had here recourse to it not on inform of any regul pract. but on that of partic friend of mine, who was some time ago obliged to visit contin of Europe with view to recov of health.

Among other alarm sympt had freq been subj to Haemopt.

And having suffered attack of it at Genev. cons Dr Odier an ingen & learnd phys of that City.

Dr Odier adv him to try this med.

At same time adding however that recom it not on any knowl. of prin of charact but merely on footing of exper.

He added even that had begun use of it with trepid.

Imag that very little benef could be derivd from artic app so inact.

But that in repeated inst had exper what he thought best [effects] from use.

On this ground then Gent to whom I allude had no hesit in giving trial to a remed from which at least nothing to be dreaded.

And upon his return to Brit informd me that in his own case had found it prod of best effects.

Did not indeed give defence again any future return of Haemopt.

But upon repeated occas found that Haemopt. very soon stopt after began use of it.

His case as I have already obs. consid as in some respects simil to that of pres. pat.

Thought this therefore no improp opport for giving trial to the pract.

And have at least no reason to [repent] it.

For not only taken without inconv. but after use begun haemopt. very soon stopt

This however was more prob. effect of mitig of cough, than of remed.

For will obs. that it this time became much easier.

Did not however obt mitig of all sympt.

For now more affected with pains in diff parts of body partic cramp in legs.

These however could not at least consider as alarm sympt.

And hoped would prove only tempor.

Accord without any pract against [this] directed merely contin of former med.

Now however had farther confir of opin. that cessat of haemopt. was prin affect of dimin of cough.

For on accid aggrav of it some slight bloody expect again app.

This however only for single day.

And would be wrong from [thence] to inferr that powders no influ.

That had effect presum from severe return of cough as ment in after report without any haemopt.

Even allowing powder however to have had consid effect yet still from severe cough were always exposed to danger of return.

Here therefore with view of mitig of cough had recourse to an op.

Which of all med. we yet possess unquest most powerf as allaying [mode] action.

Directed under form of Pil Theb.

These in conj with powder taken to extent of gr V bis ind.

Under these while cough mitig at same time contind free from any return of Haemopt.

Consid farther attend then as unnecss.

And although can by no mean consid this case as decided evid of benef of Tragac & Starch, yet event at least such as to encour. to future trials.