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It is with great pleasure that I reflect upon the few most
agreeable hours I spent in your Company at Edinburgh. I listened atten¬
tively to your advices & have ever since carefully followed them in what
concerns my health & must acknowlage I have found benefite by that
Regimen; yet my Complaints are not quite removed for I still find my
Nerves, & sometimes pains in my Breast & Bowels distress me grievously
That if I was not at times in a manner supernaturaly supported, I should
sink under them. I am much troubled with Wind & Crudities in my
Stomach & often with Slimy humours especially after I eat & my head affected
with Giddiness which as it were stupifys me at times. I have during all
this Winter, tho the Coldest mornings, used the Fresh water bath, even
when I have been so bad that when I first attempted to plunge, I scarcely
expected to be able to come out, & after Bathing, when the morning was
fair, I took a ride till Breakfast & in the forenoon, I rode from twelve
oClock for an hour & half upon a very hard sett Horse of my own, & whither
that hard sett be hurtfull to my Nerves I know not, but on riding in
the mornings I find the Giddiness in my Head, which I attribute to the
Humours being sett in motion - I always in Diets & in every thing
else abstain from Excesses of every kind. Doctor Livingston frequently
calls upon me & I have by his advice, during Winter taken three or
four Vomits which never wrought well till I used my finger or a feather
but always left my stomack full of Wind & in a low state & still I
continue to spitt in the morning a Slimy, sometimes a Blackish
matter, but noways tinged with Blood whither this be any remains
of the Venereal, or not you will be best to Judge. - A few days since
he has drawn from my Arm about eleven ounces blood by which I
found a little present benefite, but am now much as formerly. He
has given me a few doses Sacred Elixir which has keept me a little
open but still the Nerves & Viscera ail. Tho withall I enjoy
a tollerable appetite for Dinner, of which Veal is generally the prin¬
cipal Dish, & indeed is my only Diet except a little Cocoa Tea & Bread
to Breakfast & for ordinary I have sound & refreshing Sleep for Six or eight

Upon the whole I beg leave to say That as I have a Singular Confidence
in your Superior Judgement, I must entreat youl consider my Complaints
& as what has pass'd twixt us & by your former prescriptions you will,
more than most others, Know my Constitution. Be so good as, howsoon
Convenient, give me your opinion & direction of what medicines you
think proper & regimen for me to follow most beneficial Both for Nerves
& Viscera which I will punctually observe & reckon my Self obliged.
Youl please observe, when a Vomit for me is thought proper, it must be
pretty Strong, as those hitherto, I apprehend has never been so, if I may judge
by their Effects. Meantime pray excuse my taking the Liberty to Inclose
two smal Bank Notes which I hope youl be so good as accept of &
believe to be with utmost Esteem

To ---
Doctor Willm. Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh

R. Ligertwood Esq.
April 6. 1780.
V.XI. p.2.