[Page 1]
For Mr Bethune of Balfour

After having an opportunity of seeing Mr
Bethune and of being minutely informed of all his
complaints; I am still of opinion that his only ail¬
ment is a weakness of his stomach. This after long
continuance at Mr Bethunes time of Life cannot be
radically and entirely cured but by pursuing cer¬
tain measures with attention and pains it can
certainly be much relieved and rendered very moderate

The measures to be pursued are partly the use
of medicines but more effectually by Air and Exer¬
cise.

While Mr Bethune remains at home he -
should take what air and exerise he conveniently
can by walkimg, riding or going in a carriage. -
But I cannot expect that this exercise at home will
either be constant or to the extent that is necessary

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and therefore I must advise his engaging in a Journey
that may continue for several weeks. This Journey
should be at the rate of from thirty to forty miles {illeg}"
day & more is not necessary. The most proper time
for it is about the end of this month and continued to
the beginning of June. It may be towards the South
or North as most agreeable if at the same time it can
be continued long enough. If the Journey is towards
the North I would have it to Fort Augustus. But in
returning it may be allowable to go to Peterhead and
drink the water there for eight days or longer if it shall
agree with him. But let him begin with a smaller quan¬
tity and increase it by degrees. As he has been little
accustomed to cold drink he may always put a spoon
full of boiling water to half a mutchkin of the Peter¬
head water. The Peterhead ↑Water↑ is commonly taken in the
morning but as Mr Bethune for good reasons lies
abed pretty long in the morning so he can cannot take the

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water as usual but he may take one draught even
as he lies abed if he puts two or three spoonfulls of
boiling water to half a mutchkin of the Peterhead so
as not only to take off the cold of this entirely, but even
to make it nearly warm.

While Mr Bethune remains at Peterhead he
should spend at least three hours in his carriage every
forenoon that is tolerably fair.

In returning from Peterhead he should continue
to protract his journey to some length.

If Mr Bethune shall take his Journey towards
the South he may have an opportunity of making
his Journey as long as he pleases and journeying
is there to be his chief object for on reflexion I cannot
find that any mineral water within his reach is
likely to be of any service to him.

Whether at hime or in travelling Mr Bethunes
Diet may be of any plain meat he likes best and

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I have only one general direction to offer which [is?]
that he should always keep his stomach light both [with?]
respect to quantity and quality. He should therefore
avoid almost all baked and fried meats and all fat and
greasy meats or sauces. Roots and greens also should
be taken sparingly and at least all such as he find
ready to prove very flatulent.

To keep ↑the↑ stomach light it is very necessary to
keep the belly regular and as nature does not com¬
monly do her duty in this respect it is necessary for
Mr Bethune to ↑take↑ a medicine and if mustard in a mo¬
derate quantity will answer the purpose it is very
proper but as his stomach ↑does not↑ bear a large quantity of
this is may be allowable to assist it frequently with a
little rhubarb and to avoid taking this too often
a little Magnesia may be taken either by itself or
with a little rhubarb.

Besides the remedies of Air, Exercise, Diet and

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[Page 5]

Laxatives it may be proper for Mr Bethune to use
some medicines for strengthening the stomach and I
know of none more likely to be of service than the
Colomba but it must be carried no further that his sto¬
mach easily bears and as I find his stomach does not
bear much of it I would assist it by the steel drops
ordered below. Twenty of these are to be taken in an
ordinary wine glass full of water with the dose of Colomba
in the forenoon and again at Seven of the evening a
dose of the drops & water may be taken by itself.

Tho Mr Bethunes ailment is chiefly [or almost?]
only in his stomach yet I know from much [experience?]
that such a disorder of the stomach often affects the
head & throws the blood too much upon it, and {illeg}
I impute the giddiness which Mr Bethune [has?]
frequently felt is to avoid the consequence {illeg}
{illeg} {illeg} was that I advised the bleeding with leeches
and it is upon the same ground that I still advise
the continuance of [the Issue?]

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[Page 6]

I was formerly of opinion that the fault of Mr Be¬
thunes sight was owing to the same cause as his
giddiness but on hearing the circumstances more
exactly I judge it to be an infirmity that now will not
be easily {illeg} I perceive some blood {illeg}
at the outer [corner?] of the left eye & some tenderness of
the eyelid at the same place I have prescribed a li¬
niment which I hope may be usefull. About the
bigness of half a pea is to be anointed on the outer
corner of the left eye every night & morning.

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[Page 7]
For Mr Bethune of Balfour