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yours of the 8th. curt. in relation to Captain Skene I
got in course being a full answer to any thing I wrote
or could write about him. Have only to observe at present
that his cheif complaint is a languor & oppression which he
suffers from every morning after evacuating the Contents of
the ulcer in his breast, this continues more or less till
after dinner & prevents his using exercise by gentle walking
or riding in a Chaise, inclining rather to lull in a chair
by the fire side. He eats very heartily at all his
meals particularly his breakfast which seems to fill
up the [interim want?] in his breast & relieves for
some time the Languor but he is soon obliged to have
recourse to a cupfull or two of Beef Tea, or
Peppermint or Cinnamon Water. -- Could he use
any thing else to more advantage? --- He has
taken a great fancy for Tar water because I had once
ordered it to a man who recovered in this neighbourhood
who had spit up matter from his breast for sometime
after a peripneumony --- In short the Tar water is in
preparation & I believe he is trying it in a small qty.

I had within these eight days a Case of the Rabies [Canine?]
under my Care - ye Boy was bit middle of Novr. last. The
hydrophobia came on no sooner than the 12th. Curt. & he
died the 3d. day after in a miserable way. I have
wrote out the Case particularly & will if you think it
worth while transmit you a Copy. The hydrophobia is
certainly an improper term for this He inclined to drink
liquids & said he would be well could he drink, but
could not swallow a drop for a spasm in the agony
of Deglutition -- The spasm indeed only operated either in
the Idea of drinking liquids or in the attempt for
I made him swallow bread, & even bread soaked
in water several times, {illeg} but as I only take up your
time in lengthening this description -- I remain Sir with
very much respect

To
Dr. Cullen ---------
Edinburgh.

✍
Dr Bathie
Captn Skene
Febry. 19th 1775
Vol IV p 22