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my Mother Receiv'd yours
this day, it gives us Pleasure to hear the Capt
is so much better, am very hopefull his
Disorder will soon wair of, & we would
still fain hope James would take a favour¬
able turn {illeg} (↑as↑) has not Continued for Long in
a settled way nor turnd low.

In regard to answring Doctor Cullon Queries
thought needless to send for Doctor Ogilvy
as he has not atended him could be
no judge of his Disorder any other ways
then by my information so have made
out a state of his case, as near as I can
in answer to the Queries as Likewise sent
a more full & Particular one which after
Perusing may show Doctor Cullon if thinks
Proper, & after Exemining which if thinks
Could be of use & wish to have him at
Edinr Mama will most Gladly send him

James Coutts Eqr
at Capt Discury Princes Street
New town
Edinr

✍
Case of Mr Strachan
July 12th 1776
Vol Vth p.12 ✍

1 his age twenty two

2 his Temperament very sanguine

3 his Manner of Life before the atack of his Disease
was very temperate, gave very Closs Application to
Busness & as had no other time for study but when
should have sleept sat up almost whole nights read¬
ing. Was very earnest for improveing himself as
a Gentelman as Likewise to gain a most Compleat
thorough knowledge of trade.

In the Mounth of January 1775 haveing got aquanted
with a Gentilman from Barcalona, who wanted
him much to go their & spend some Mounths
which he being eager to see a Littl more of
the world & form new Connections readily Embraced
was much Elevate with the going dureing the
journey which was about one mounth he was
Chearfull & Happy as Likewise for a Mounth after
{illeg} & behaved so much to the Gentilmans Satis¬
faction, that he went over with that had
agreed to take him into Partership, which being
a very Respectable house & in great Busness was
a most agreebal offer & in which he was most
Sanguine & Earnest to get Settled, which appeared by
his Letters to his frends requesting their advice
but no sooner had he wrot of the whole Plan,
then his Letters turnd on a Diffrant Strain

About the Middle of may the Gentilman with
whom he staid wrot to his frind of his case
that they had often inquird the caus of his Mel¬
ancholy but he never had said any thing trubled
him the 17th of May he turned High when the
Physicians then said it was come the Lenth of
Madness, & they thought of sending him to [Montpelier?]
for further advice with a Sert to atend him
but with the traveling had turnd worse as then
took strange Notions & quite Flighty. Staid a few
days & set out for England, oftener as Postelian
then on the Chais, when arived at Paris was
Observd on the streets to be unfit to take care
of himself was put in a Convent till his friends
was aquanted, & a Gentilman from London
went to bring him over. The opinion of the
Physicians in that Convent was that he had taken
Mercury which had got into his brain which gave
them small hopes of his Recovery, but was useing
the Cold Bath but as he staid so short time
cannot judge of the Effects.

Upon his comeing to London it was advisd to put him
in a Private Mad house, & about the Middle
of July I went up & found him there quite
in a Low Dejected state which I atributed to his
Displeasure at being in such a house & was
very desirous to have him in Lodgings with
myself in hopes it would wair off by Paying
him Proper attention, but after trying it some
time was much Disapointed at finding no
attention nor pains was usefull. During that
time he sometimes Cry'd & sometimes Laughd
but Never spoke eat his Vituals Pretty well
was much for being alone & ran away from
evry body he knew before.

After applying to a Physician he was orderd
Nervous Draughts evening & morning frequently
Physick Pukes Vomits & Bleeding, for sometime
had no Effect the Nervous Draughts was given
over & the Others Continu'd, he begun & spoke
a great deal but no ways Senseable nor Partic¬
lar subjects, not furious but happy & Pleasd with
himself & Laughd a great deal, never turnd
more sociable always being senseable of his
own Distress, in this way Continued sometime
& then Varied more frequent somedays sulky
others good humourd, very Noisy & earnest in
his Discourse with himself, behaveing as if acting
{illeg} & repeating verses all of which mostly incoherant

1 his age 22

2 his Temperament very Sanguine

3 his Manner of Life before the atack of this
Disease very temperate. Gave great application
to Busness & much given to reading.

4 had not met with any thing to which could
atribute his Disorder, Unless Change of Climate
a Diffrant Manner of Life & over Earnest on
the Prospect of being Settled in Life,

5 his Disease came on very Gradualy for
sometime Melancholy never seen to smile
& Complaind much of a Nervous Disorder
which did not aparantly appear always
eating his Vituals well, but as to sleeping
at that time does not know, was very
Unhappy & senseable of his own situation
after sometime turnd high not Furious
but Flighty took false Notions but did not
Continue on any Particular subject

7 Nervous Draughts Draughts was given him
for sometime without seeming to have
any Effect. Being naturally Costive Physick
was often us'd which required being very
strong Vomits & bleeding sometimes

8 for six Mounths has been in a very
talking humour often varying days sulky
others happy with himself Laughing thinking
himself a great man & many fals Notions
& when sleep best made him Higher
some days turnd as loud in his Discourse
that had Occasion for his hands being Confind
in a Waiscot to keep him more quiet
Generaly Continued a day & night together
till was quite wore out & for several nights
more would not sleep,

10 it is about 16 Mounths since the Disorder
begun to come on. Could any thing be thought
of by Doctor Cullon that might be a means
to his Recovery his friends would Gladly have
it tryd.