Considerations on the medicinal use, and production of factitious airs. : Part III / by Thomas Beddoes and James Watt.

  • Beddoes, Thomas, 1760-1808.
Date:
1795
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Considerations on the medicinal use, and production of factitious airs. : Part III / by Thomas Beddoes and James Watt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    ( « ) Letter from Sir William Chambers, Knight of the Polar Star, F. A. & &c. &c. June 20, 1795* Sir, AS every perfon of a benevolent mind and enlarged underftanding muft approve of the defign of thofe gen- tlemen, who are endeavouring from aphilofophic in- duction, to introduce aerial remedies for the removal of otherwife incurable difeafes, and as my cafe appears fuch as to demon fixate the efficacy of the vital air in a diforder, that has hitherto refilled the ableft practition- ers in phyfic, I will attempt, as far as lies in my power, to defcribe my fituation, and the effects, which I ex- perienced from this new remedy ; I (hall be truly happy, mould the fame advantages be felt by others under fimilar circumftances. Previous to my coming under Dr. Thornton's care, every means which extenfive experience and great abilities could fuggeft, had been tried by my friend Dr. Turton. My complaint feemed to be of fuch a nature, as to baffle all the powers of art. I was at that time hardly able to move from one chair to another. It was with the utmoft difficulty I could get up flairs. I had water in both my lower extremities, and great oppreflion on my breath, fo that when 1 lay down to fleep, I was frequently obliged to ftart up and refume an upright pofluie, to prevent royfelf from being, as it were, fuffbeated. My nights were bad, my appetite gone, and for months I had not been able tO fwallow any thing folid. Indeed I had given myfelf up as a loft man, until I heard of the vital air, which my friends