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To Mr Alexr Lorrain at Dunse
about Mr Tait there

I have considered your patients case very
attentively & tho he seems to have been treated very
properly & with very effectual Remedies I cannot think
he is yet out of danger of a Consumption & it will
still require a great deal care & attention during the
whole of this summer to avoid it. Tho his Blood is still
sizy & his pulse quick I doubt if his strengh will now bear
bleeding & without the urgency of stich or difficult breathing
I could not advise it. Let his belly be kept regular by

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flowers of Sulphur. In so far as his C{illeg}g Cough is frequent
& tickling without expectoration it will be proper to
continue some of the Emollient and Mucilaginous
Pectorals. One of the most convenient is gum Arabic
which may be either made into a Mucilage with three
times its quantity of water & mixed with Balsamic
Syrup to be taken in small spoonfulls frequently or the
gum may be powdered & from half a dram to a dram
may be dissolved in any of his drinks & taken several
times a day. As his spitting is very viscid it may be
proper to continue the Oxymel or Acet Scilliticum
in a mixture or to give him Pills made of dried squils
with a small proportion G. Ammoniac & a larger one
of soap. In either case the dose of the squills is to be so
much as his stomach & guts easily bear. These are the
only Medicines I can judge necessary at present, {illeg}
& I think his regimens of more consequence. A principal
artical is Riding but at present it must be mana¬
ged with great caution to avoid cold & Fatigue. Any of
these will readily counterballance all the other good
effects of it. Let him therefore endeavour at riding but
proceed slowly as his strength & the season allows. In
diet I would have him avoid all animal food & take
entirely to milk & grains As he is disposed to be costive
let him take new draw cow milk whey both for breakfast
& supper. This is the only wash that can be employed
at present for that foulness of his blood that appears
upon his hands & head. If the asses milk can still be

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conveniently got it is to be continued. I suppose he is
already provided with a flannel shirt which I think ↑is↑ very
necessary for him. If with the above Medecines & this Re¬
gimen his breathing & cough become better soon easier
& his expectoration more free I would advise no farther
but if these Symptoms do not soon mend [& entirely?]
& especialy if they grow any worse I advise a perpetual
Issue to be put into his back. Tho' he should in the month
of May recover a good deal I would still advise him in the
beginning of June to enter on a course of goat whey with
daily Riding on Horseback. If on the other hand he should
in two or three weeks hence have made no progress in
his recovery I imagine he will have no choice for it but
by a Sea Voyage & I would ernestly advise it if either the
state of his strength or circumstances of his affairs will
anyways permit. ---