[Page 1]

The situation of my affairs makes it necessary for me
to go to America, notwhithstanding the disorder that yet pre¬
vails in that country ¹ –– You will readily think I cannot go tho
before I wait on you for your direction & advice as to the man¬
agement of this very troublesome body of mine, as it may
be a long time before (if ever) I can have that opportunity again

My habit generally has been better than I ever expected
when I consider how much it has suffered over all and now I
am chiefly uneasie about this plangy stricture or excrescence
I know not what to call it, for as yet with all my experience
& attention I have acquired no certain rule for its management
–– no security that this is in my own power – no better idea of
its nature –– the pain in my back & other symptoms which I
complained to you of at Glasgow having left me soon after,
I tried every variety in my way of living I rode on horsback
(& back) to Inverary & did not use the Bougie till my re¬
turn, still I perceived little or no difference – About the
end of November last I had occasion to go to London & did
not use them til my return here as in all this time which was
about 6 weeks I was in the best health I hads been in a long
time & perceiving no alteration in making water I flatter¬

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[Page 2]

ered myself I should find some alteration to the better on
trying the Bougie again – but neither my art nor Dr Woods
could get one past – He was obliged to take a Catheter,
which he got past with some difficulty but little pain
& in an hour or two after I got up the Bougie again
which only made a little rippling as it went past as
it often used to do –– I have had no difficulty or pain in
passing them since, but once, when the Bougie seemed
to take more than ordinary hold & finding it had not
twisted or creas'd (for in this case its in vain to press) I
pushed it through, I felt a very considerable kind of
obtuse pain seemingly different from that occasioned
by laceration. I suffered it to remain in tho as the pain
subsided & on withdrawing it found no consequence
afford it farther than a p{illeg} little bloody urine at
the last of my making water –– Now I am just as before –
sometimes I pass the Bougie without either pain or
even feeling the usual rippling, sometimes I feel both –
now it will turn the point of the Bougie by opposi¬
tion not painfull next minute having made straight
the same bougie I pass it along easily – but it would
be [endless?] & impertinent to trouble you with all

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its peculiaritys –– I must confess tho that I have gained
something I am more continent in my urinary faculty &
discharge my water rather brisker than was the case be¬
fore I got a Bougie past but yet the stream instead of
being round is rather broad & sometimes twisted & dis¬
posed to divide especially towards the last of making
water –– upon the whole I am unhappy as it woud seem
from this long trial that dilatation is not to remove it
nor indeed to secure me I fear from the accidents it
seems to be liable to as well as from my disusing the
Bougie too long which I may happen to do from other
causes than neglect, as from these too frequent use – for
by attending in this way to keep the obstructed part di¬
lated which must now have lost its muscular power &
may be the cause of all the peculiarities ↑I observe↑ in the function (↑on↑)
of the urethra I fear by this necessary frequent use the
whole may become callaous –– I speak what my fears suggest
I have never mentioned my case to any one but you & Dr.
Wood who has been very kind & attentive to me & in a
matter that naturally engrosses so much of my thoughts
I cannot avoid revolving a thousand suppositions nor
am I afraid of exposing myself to you having had

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sufficient experience of your patience & sympathy – you
know how it was first occasioned you have been tired with
my reveries about it I will therefore trouble you no farth¬
er but after what conversation you may find it conven¬
ient to take occasion to have with Dr. Wood about it
I shall be happy to have your last opinion & advice ––

I enclose three guineas very sensible however that
it is short of what I am in arrears for former trouble
independent of my present request. ––––

Buchanan's Hastie & Company of Glasgow ² not being
able to keep up their Credit during the cruel delay in A¬
merican matters have given up their subjects into the hands
of trustees. I am informed by my freinds that tho I was out
as early as 1774 yet the [Crown?] intend if they can to make me
still liable, on this account I find it necessary to be
incognito till I can get away –– I will wait on you tho any evening
this week to come you please or any answer to this you
shall think proper may be sent to Mr. James Marshalls
writer Mills Court where I will be sure to get it safe

✍
H. Lochhead.
January 1778.
8. p 69