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I write at this time for your advice and assistance; and am
going to take a liberty which I know well you will most readily
excuse, namely, to ask them, without a fee. When I mention that
the patient is a very amiable woman, a particular friend and relation
of mine, in reduced and very embarrassed circumstances, whose husband
was obliged to go abroad, ↑to America↑ above three years ago, to try to retrieve
his affairs, leaving her with a large family; you, I am sure, will
be as ready to serve her as I am, who think all I can do for
her in every shape, the least that she deserves. - It is entirely
of myself that I write you, and in some measure, on my own
account, not knowing what end there may be to her complaints, in the
present circumstances. As the same time the assistance you give me
will be very well taken, I know, by one or two of the best families
in this neighbourhood, with whom she is connected - But I am
multiplying words quite unnecessarily - I shall only add that as there
is one respectable family with whom she is most nearly connected, - who
are obliged to do much for her, and who will see what you are so good
as to write me, - it will be best to say no more, in regard to what I
have written above, than - that any such worthy friend of mine as
I write you of will be welcome to your assistance; - or whatever you
think more proper to this purpose.

The Lady is at this time about thirty five, or thirty six,
the mother of six children; of a large make, tho never corpulent;
and formerly, before her misfortunes began, for the most part, or I
think always, healthy, active, and strong - For the first two years
after her husband went abroad, tho' she was often complaining
& much dejected, yet I do not recollect any remarkable complaints,
or such as required any particular assistance. Her youngest child
was born several months after his departure. During the last year
wearied out with anxiety and disappointment, for her husbands going

I need not add more. The principal means I have used are as
follows. After her having been once bled by a surgeon in the country,
an account of the profluvium, I directed alum & some other common
things, with bark in light forms - Her stomach would not bear alum.
Since she came [here?] I have at no time seen bleeding admissible, judging
from the state of the pulse. She made a trial in the country (tho not
an accurate one), for the Flux albus of mastic (which I have been
trying in some instances of that disease, and think I did pretty
evident service with in one). For the same complaint I have here
made trial of the [Bals Capyv:?] but the condition of her stomach,
as well as the returns of the profluvium, have made the trials of
that med{illeg} undeterminate Our chief dependance therefore has
been upon the Bark, which she at present bears very well, in sub¬
stance, and the Hartfell Water along with it. With these I with at¬
tention to her diet, we think she has been easiest, tho' as yet she is
making no material progress; indeed hardly any at all. I have tried
cooling & gently astringent injections & into the vagina, which do not
seem to have any effect, one way or another - As laxatives, Castor oil,
Rhubarb in the infusion - Sal rupell, & other easy things; have been all
severally used as they became necessary - Opiates she can never want.
I was two or three times obliged, on account of the uneasiness & pains
of the Haunches [so?] to direct a liniment, with a large proportion of
Laudanum for them - together with common sickness - she places
herself a good deal of dependance on cold bathing in one shape or another, which
we have been talking of for some time, but never yet had room for -

With so much ailing, and taking of medicines, which she never was ac¬
customed to, my friends temper ↑[we alledge?]↑ is come to be in some danger of being affected
tho' these is no reason to complain of her. From her having been in a manner
one of my companions, in my younger days, when I frequently lived with her
in the houses of one or other of her friends, I must say, that she was then
as she has always been since, remarkable for her chearfulness & good hum¬
our. - But I will not use you farther. I heartily wish, dear sir
that you could help me in this case, which, if it goes on as it has done
will be very distressing to those concerned. She cannot expect that
any speedy change should be easily affected; tho' better weather, and
clear frosty weather, which we have had none of yet, might make a
change. The things that hurt her most we cannot mend; - If
things had been going well with her family; and if she had
been continuing to bear children, which if he had been living with her
would naturally have been the case, [then?] the probability is that she would
have been enjoying her usual good health. - I say nothing at the pre¬
sent about our patient Mr Gordon whose situation however, from what I
hear so much the same. I am to be on his side of the country tomorrow

To
Doctor Cullen Physician
Edinburgh