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Agreeable to your kind permission, I
now beg leave to accquant you with my proceedings
since I left Edinburgh. Immeadiatly upon my
getting home, I had my hair cut out & began a
Course of the Cold bathing, togither with the
medicines you prescribed for me, both which
agreed with me very well, I had not however
used them above 8 or 10 days when an opportunity
offered of my getting a cruize in the Channell
for a few weeks, this I tho more readily
embraced as the weather was remarkably fine
& you had so strongly recommended this kind
of Exercise. - by this my bathing was interupted
& I am at loss whither or not I should begin
it again as the Season is now far advanced
& the Weather begining to turn a little Cold
of this you'll be be good enough to advise
with your Conveniency, & say how often &
how long I should continue it --- ----
with respect to the situation of my health --
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at present I think upon the whole it is rather better, but
altho some of my complaints are quite gone & the violence of
most of the others somewhat lessened, yet I do not find
that I am recovering any part of that flesh that
I had lost -- I have ↑had↑ but one return of the Piles since
I saw you & that was a few days after I left Edinburgh
so that from the long respite I have had, I am hopefull
that disagreeable disorder has quited me altogither
I am not often now troubled with that giddiness in
my head of which I complain'd so much, but the
Sourness of the Stomach with flatulencies continue
much the same as formerly & are at times very distressing
I find my↑self↑ most troubled with the heart burn & bringing
up wind from the Stomach after eating particularly
after dinner -- I have of late been sometimes troubled
with a Sickness at the Stomach which will continue
in a greater or less degree for some days & then go
of again without the use of any Medicine -- My
breast some times breaks out in little bumps & is so
amazingly itchy, that in feeling as well as in looks
it much resembles the itch, however it soon disapears
again -- -- The Laxative you prescribed answers the purpose
very well, but have now little occasion to use it being
much more regular in my belly than formerly
if you could think ↑of any thing↑ that would correct the acidity
& flatulence in the Stomach, & relieve the Sickness
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you'll be good enough to advise,. my appetite is
tolerably good & I sleep pretty well, I have
hitherto & will adhere strictly to what regimen
you may prescribe --- I shall be obliged for your
further advice as sor as soon as you can make
it convenient. As I am giving you more trouble
Shall at least consider myself in your debt
another fee which will most Chearfull pay

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✍
Mr John Mackie
Straunraer. --
October 1. 1779.
V.X. p.104.