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M - L -, who is turned forty, was in January 84 taken very
ill after a cold journey of 50 miles, at a certain monthly
period, which stopped. She was seized with extreme pain
and oppression in his stomach which continued many hours
with the assistance of Tartar Emetic, she brought off a
a great deal of Bile; {illeg} the vomiting's being too soon
checked by Laudanum -- she took castor Oil, which was of
use. Wandering pains and feverish symptoms hung about
her for a fortnight - As she returned home the carriage
broke down, and in getting into another by a quick motion
she was sensible of a sharp pain from her knee to her right
side, a kind of spasm, which made it necessary to lay her
legs across the seat- For three weeks longer she struggled
with disease, but was there attacked with pains so
violent, chiefly in the right side, as to oblige her to have
recoarse to medical assistance - Her Physician ordered
her four spoonfulls of Hiera Picra, and to set her legs in
warm water in hope of removing the Obstruction, but did
not succeed - Acute and inflammatory pain, occasioned
her to be bled two days following; her blood was foul and
poor, with a thick coat on the top: bladders of hot water
and poultices were applied to her side; afforded some
relief; yet every movement of the body, or sensation of the
mind, was accompanied with darting pain - deep within;
and evacuations of either kind, brought on by the effect
of medicine and [ingestions?], occasioned excruciating
torture, so as to render her unable to turn herself in
bed --- For these obstructions, particularly that supposed to
be in the gallbladder, she took calomel, purging it off
in the morning, for some weeks. The pains became less
acute, but still remained in her back, right shoulder, and

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legs, more or less: with an unusual fullnes in the bottom
of the body. -- It was wished she would be put into a
warm bath, therefore as soon as the abatement of her
worst symptoms enabled her to travel, she went to Bath,
but found bathing affected her breathing {illeg} extremely
and disagreed by throwing the fullness of her body still
more towards her chest, causing several alarming
spasms, so as to make it absolutely necessary she
should discontinue it - In her way through town, in
June, a Prescription was given her of two spoonfulls of
Bark decoction with two teaspoonfulls of Tincture of
Antimony; also 12 grains of Rhubarb and of Magnesia
in the course of the day -- (This she sstill finds of use to her
constitution at times) Squills were tried unsuccessfully.
The journey into Norfolk caused her legs to swell prodigiously
and her Body increased in size. Her medical friend ordered
her a great deal of Cream of Tartar, sometimes Jalap, ordered
Castor Oil for a habitual Costiveness, Tapping had been
recommended by some of the Physicians consulted, and
disapproved by other -. The latter opinion corresponded
so much with her own feeling, that she invariably objected
to that operation; she removed near three months into a
higher situation and purer air. Blisters were repeatedly
applied to her stomach and side; Calybeate wine; Squills;
powder of Jalap; dover's powder with Venice Turpentine,
were taken - A dry diet and little liquid -- A fever came
on-- Urine was painfully made in small quantity, very turbid
The enlargement increasing, breathing more difficult,
she returned home. Drains in her Thighs were opened, and

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discharged moderately. She consented to try the Foxglove
It was given in a slight infusion, with the utmost
care and attention -- brought on a distressing sickness
without vomiting; and caused a flow of water which
lessened the distension, but debilitated and reduced her
extremely, notwithstanding the support of Bark, and wine
The Foxglove was lift off. On a stoppage of the secretion
she had again recourse to it, but not with equal
success - It occasioned a deadly sickness without causing
a flow of water, Therefore was given up as injurious to
her constitution. In this miserable state of suffering, a
cold in November terminated in a violent cough; in one
of the fits of which her Navel started, and gradually
enlarged to the size of a Hen's Egg, apparently filled with
water, and the skin stretched, so as to render it almost
transparent. Her medical friends considered this as
an effect of Nature in her favour, and thought a slight
puncture with a lancet might answer well, Accordingly
April the 24th. a small orifice was made and near 3 quarts
of water came away. She had for many months felt great
uneasiness about the Navel after eating, and her digestion
being remarkably bad, and her whole [frame?] languid and
weak, it was judged necessary to leave off almost all
medicine, To eat strawberries, Asparagus, and light meats,
and drink plentifully of Madeira wine. This regimen
was attended with a return of appetite, and she visibly
gained strength; when a fluid again appeared in the Navel,

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which had continued to cure a little, and on May 15. the
operation was repeated and about the same quantity of
water discharged --- --- July the 4. After six weeks collection of
fluid, the Navel suddenly discharged more than two
quarts in a smallstream from the part where the
puncture had been made --- it continued dropping for
another week, when from an accident in straining to
bring away a fishbone, a gush of about half a pint of
water followed, and she sat some hours supposing it
best to encourage the discharge. and had a very easy
night -- On the following day the Navel appeared red, and
scarlet; the inflammation spread around it, caused
excessive soreness inward, as well as outwards, and it
Was pronounced that a part of the {illeg} had fallen down, .
Goulard, and Bark poultices were applied alternately
and Laudanum taken; The Navel has been ever since
dressed with a Liniment, and will not endure the lightest
pressure; and to guard against worse consequences,
she had been ever since confined to her bed in a
horizontal position. --- The inflammation ended in a
discharge of matter for several days, as well as {illeg}
since then she has had many returns of the same nature
The swelling on the chest is lessened, but below, and on
the right and left side, the body is painfully distended.

The Navel projects less, but is covered with blisters of water
and matter; whilst these are gathering, she complains of
a string girt tight, which releases as the inflammation
abates, and the bladders break -- Till that happens, she
seeks ease from Laudanum -- After a suppression of
Urine she frequently labours under, with pain at the neck
of the bladder, the sediment is tinged with purple.

She is sometimes seized {illeg}