DEP/DUA/1/47/51 (Transcript version)

John Miller

(1790)

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John Miller at 32. N^o30.

When formerly spoke of this case, stated sentim with respect to it, at some length.

And although pointed out sever singul, with which attended, yet had little doubt, in consid it as being an ex of Asthma, of spasm. kind.

On this idea of the disease, was not disp to give fav prognos.

Had not indeed any appreh of fatal conclus.

For upon whole but rarely term in death, merely of itself.

And will freq subsist for many years, to much higher degree, withou any such concl.

But very gener, when once distinct markd, proves an obs. affect.

And will often cont. notwith [every] remed, to distress pat. during whole remaind of life.

Hence formerly mentiond, that did not expect to bring about radic cure.

Yet entert some hopes, that by prop remed, should be able to dimin both freq & sever of fits.

Cannot however pretend to say, that even in this respect, expect have been answ.

At least, benefit receivd, neither so consid as lookd for, nor so decidedly the effect of remed empl.

In treatm of this case, as formerly observd, had chiefly following obj in view.

In first place on threatning of appr. fit, to endeav to anticip occurr.

In the second place, when fit has already taken place, to endeav to endeav to obt speedy termin, by forwarding resolut of spasm.

But above all, during interv betw fits, to endeav to remove that morb. irritab, from which by very slight causes, inord action giving fits induced.

Was with view of answ too first of these intent, that here directed mixt, which had for basis the Vitr. Aether.

This I need hardly obs. one of most powerful antispas, with which are acq.

And often empl with success, both in allaying spasm, when alr. exist & in anticip occurr.

Hoped therefore, that might both by useful as prev. fits, & as bringing about termin, when had already taken place.

Directd therefore, that should not only be regul taken every morning & evening, but also repeatedly empl. when an urgent fit came on.

But in conj with the aether mixt, directed also, you will obs anothr med.

A combin viz of Zincum praecip, with powder of Valer.

In both these have artic freq. emp with adv, against disease of spasm kind.

And not unfreq empl with adv. prod of benef, in inst not only of Convuls & Hyst, but even of Epilep.

On what prin they operate indeed, is I think very doubtful.

But seems at least highly prob. that somehow dimin that morb. irritab, giving tend to inord. action.

This partic to be expectd, from the Zinc.

An artic from which in cases of Hysteria in partic, have often I think seen best effect.

This artic, in such affect, first introd internally, under form of flower or calx.

Has often also been empl in saline state, that viz of White Vitriol.

But while former, with many stom inact, latter very apt to excite sickness & vomit.

And am I own disp to preferr to either, the formul here used.

A precip from a solut of White Vitr. by means of Vol. Alk.

From these diff med, no inconv.

And after contin for some weeks, seemd to have obt, at least temp. relief.

In so much, that from 13^th to 30 Feb. was free from any fit.

In this situat, thought contin of Aether mixt unnecss.

And partic led to omit it, that influ. might not be dimin from long habit.

Directed therefore contin of Zinc alone.

But soon after this subj to sever severe returns of Asthm fits.

This pat himself ascribd, & prob. with just, to some foggy weath which then happend to occurr.

But whether this the case or not, could be little hesit in [advising] contin repetit of Aether.

After this, though fits still severe, were for a short time at least, less freq.

But about end of last month, prob from cold weath, & prev easterly winds, had a severe fit alm every night.

In this situat, became tired of med & expressd desire of making trial of St Bernards well.

A spring in neighb of city at pres used as an alm univ panacea.

But however useful may be in some inst, have no reason I think to expect benef from it.

For is merely simple water slightly impregn with [hepat] air & with small prop of comm salt.

Reckond it however most prud to comply with his request.

For if had not done so, med although orderd, would not prob have been taken.

With omiss of med. therefore, gave consent to this trial.

And at last report found that for space of week had taken it daily to extent of two bottles.

Only obv. effect that of encr. quant of water.

Fits of Asthma howevr accord to his acct both less freq & less severe.

From this naturally led to persist in course.

And effects to be determin only by trial.

But may concl. with obs. that if under use patient obt any matter benef. should ascribe it more to air & exercise conj with drinking cold water, than to any miner impregn.