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I have the pleasure to tell you our patient Altyre has for some
time back been much easier, the swelling being reduced, at least above his Ankles, his
Cough upon the whole not nigh so Violent, and the fever considerablie abated, I
cannot say I even cou'd catch a thorrow intermission, 'tho the next thing to it, particular¬
ly in the forenoons, he is now come the length of taking a litle food, and an Airing for full
two hours forenoon and afternoon, his side was allow'd to heal up how soon the pain sub¬
sided, but agreed to have an Issue in his back, which discharges well, and I'm perswad¬
ed does him service.

Could the Bark be ventured upon in small quantities, and
in what shape!

I must now beg leeve to ask your opinion about a girl
of Twenty year old, midle size, and rather delicate, but pretty healthy till towards --
Eleven, when she had the small Pox, which she passed easily through, and some time
after a long tedious fever which she likewise recovered, and a few months after was sent
to a Country boarding School, where she Continued healthy and well for two years, but
soon after going there catched a dry sort of an Itch, which continued more or less, and
flying out and in for about five years after, but it was not much minded as it did
not disturb her much.

About three years ago she was suddenly seized with
a pain in her right shoulder, which shifted down towards the small ribs and [open?] of
that side, and sprade along over to the other side, those pains came and went for the space
of a year, but would had intervals of two or three months at a time, and at last got
altogether free of them, 'till about two years ago that she complained occasionalie of
a pain in her Stomach, but one night observed a pretty considerable swelling in
the pitt of it, which in a very few days made a most rapid progress downwards,
all over the Abdomen, when her bulk increas'd to a most Enormous size, but with
powerfull Catharticks and Dieureticks, began to yield a litle in four or five weeks,
and in some months was entirely removed, 'tho since that period never cou'd bear
much fatigue, yet otherwise pretty healthy till last March, when her menses
appeared in the usuall manner, but before they were entirely gone off she went out
and Catched cold, and soon after complained of a pain in the op{illeg} her right side
and across the small of her back, with Penurie of Urin, and {illeg} ↑that↑ her Eva¬
cuations came on again with double Violence, but with mild astringents, and
gentle Opiats occasionaly, were stoped in ten or twelve days, 'tho it was some time
before she had recovered her Strength and Spirits, but at last got pretty well till about
six weeks ago, that her Menses came on and continued the usual time, but while they
were upon her she happen'd to be exposed to a good deal of fatigue, and three days after
geting well, was seiz'd with an Universall coldness, pain in all her bones, right
side, and across the Loyns, and in a few days after a Violent Flooding came on, which
continued about a fortnight, and then gradualie stoped alltogether, but for a month
past has been in the greatest distress both night and day, ↑& that↑ with most Violent racking
pains in Stomach, Belly, Sides, and Back, likewise in the right haunch bone,

extending down along that thigh and Leg neither of which she can hardly move at times,
she does not remember having had a total intermission from those Excruciating pains
since they first began, 'tho to be sure they frequently remitt, but when at thier worst they
hardly yeeld to the most powerfull Opiats, her Strength is quite reduced, appetite entirely
gone, her pulse in common poor, small and languid, but rises a litle with the pains, 'tho not
attended with much drouth, and in this deplorable situation she now is. ---

Her Menses first appeared when towards sixteen, and alwise continued in pretty large
quantities, for four, and frequently five days, but since last March for a full week, and that
in considerable quantities, and then returned in three weeks after. -- she still complain
of a Penurie of Urin, and with frequent inclination. -- About three weeks ago past
a large red Worm, but never any before that she can remember. - Astringents, Laxatives,
Injections, ↑& Opiats↑ have been occasionaly given from first to last, but the truth is, her Stomach
is now in such a state, that it can hardly receive any one thing, either food or Medicine,

For nigh a week she has been taking a litle Bark with Sal. Diuret. enfused in
red Port. -- I might have mentioned that soon after the Dropsical swelling was
almost removed, her hands swelled and fingers swelled, and stuck out in large Pimples,
which came to Suppuration, and since then has had no returns of the Eruption on her
skin. -- You will receive two Notes Enclosed, and I shall hope for the pleasure of
hearing from you with Convenient speed, mean time believe me alwise with per¬
fect regard --

To Doctor William Cullon
Physician
at
Edin.