Letters from Dr. Withering, of Birmingham, Dr. Ewart, of Bath, Dr. Thornton, of London, and Dr. Biggs, late of the isle of Santa-Cruz : together with some other papers, supplementary to two publications on asthma, consumption, fever, and other diseases / by Thomas Beddoes.

  • Beddoes, Thomas, 1760-1808.
Date:
[1794?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters from Dr. Withering, of Birmingham, Dr. Ewart, of Bath, Dr. Thornton, of London, and Dr. Biggs, late of the isle of Santa-Cruz : together with some other papers, supplementary to two publications on asthma, consumption, fever, and other diseases / by Thomas Beddoes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    Such however was foon the abatement of all her fymptoms under the above treatment; fo entirely tor fome week did the heftic fever difappear ; and fo evidently did the gain during the fame period both fleth and flrength, that not only her relations acquired new and fanguine hopes of her re- covery, but I began ferioufly to flatter myfelf with a difap- pointment of my predictions, although I durft not venture to avow it. The firll check given to this amendment, which proceeded for four or five weeks, was occafioncd by an over- exertion of her lately recovered flrength, during a fatiguing walk, the latter part of which was up a pretty lleep afeent. A return of pain in the breafl and dyfpncea, a tinge of blood in the expeftoration, together with an accelerated pulfe, made me have recourfe to bloodletting, blifters applied to the cheft, See. which greatly relieved thefe fymptoms, but at the fame time reduced the general flrength. The inhalation of mephitic air was interrupted during the period of this frelh inflammatory attack, from an uncertainty how it might aft rather than from any obfervation ot its difagreeing ; but it was repeated as before, after the fymptoms of inflammation had abated, and again feemed to produce the fame beneficial effefts. A fecond relapfe however occurred fome weeks afterwards from a flight indiferetion, the throwing off part of her accuflomcd garments. This was removed much in the fame way as the former one, and the mephitic air was again reforted to with fimilar fuccefs. After each of thefe inflammatory attacks, and after one or two others which hap- pened fubfequently, there remained for fome time a confide- rable increafe of cough and-expectoration, and a permanent heftic, which however gradually abated under the life ot the mephitic air. But thefe repeated relapfes from flight caufes, notwithflanding the conffitution rallied aftonifhingly after- wards, and foon feemed to regain all it had loll, renewed my fears that the difeafe would foon run the ufual and rapid courfe of confirmed phthifis. The patient left Bath in the month of May lafl, to take advantage of the fummer feafon for trying another voyage by lea, Hill bent on continuing the inhalation of mephitic air. I defpaired of hearing much longer any favourable accounts of her; but have been re- peatedly and agreeably difappointed, in learning that her health has fince gained inflead of lofing flrength. By a letter received within thefe few days from Peterfburgh, where file has palled the fummer, it is reported to me “ that fhe is wonderfully recovered by the Balfam of Mecca, which Ihe got from the Turkifh ambalfador.'1 Whether file has all along continued the mephitic air, I cannot undertake to ufiert; but I believe in the affirmative, from her intentions