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I have determined to trouble you with two or
three in regard to a circumstance of little or no moment
but which it can do no harm to explain to you. - Soon after
Miss McMurdo returned to this place from Edinburgh I was in¬
formed by one of my friends that her going there, (which
was with my consent) had been considered by her con¬
nections as improper and hazardous. --- That it proved
very distressing to her friends and disconcerted them
much, was certainly the case, but I flatter myself that
when they consider all circumstances they will not be dis¬
posed to blame me. -- It is now four years complete
that I have attended the Miss McMurdos in all their sin¬
gular tedious, and distressing ailments. -- By the time
I had been with them a twelve month or more, I re¬
member well I was led to say to say to one of their
friends that I regreted much they were not ladies of
rank and fortune, their anxiety to use means for
the recovery of health being so great & so constant,
which indeed the singularity and severity of their dis¬
orders made the less remarkable. - I do not mean
this as the smallest reflection upon the Miss Macmurdos
who, all of them, possess a goodness of heart & sweetness

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of temper that would well become any rank of Life; - and
I should mention that the anxiety I speak of did not dis¬
cover itself ↑so much↑ in those who were my patients for the time
being, but in the others who were well --- Every year
has produced new undertakings proposed & urged by
themselves, and I must observe that although from the
first I refused to take their money, (not thinking they
could afford to pay me, -and therefore [woud?] would have
really declined two or three small fees which she forced
upon me)-yet I have been surprised to see how easily
they went into every undertaking of trouble, risque and
expence that occurred to them. -- The first season was
spent in jaunts among their friends in Galloway, at
Goats whey &c - which was very well. --- Next year
they proposed, from the recommendation of some of their
friends, the journey to Gillsland water in Cumberland
which having been much extolled in Colics I was very
well pleased to try - It proved however altogether un¬
fortunate, - the journey having disordered her very much,
& the water disagreeing with her in such a manner that
she could not use it. - Next season came the Voyage to
Dublin. This startled me. I told them I could not answer
for the consequences; but as ↑both↑ my patient & her sisters
declared they were bent upon going, if I would consent; and

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as I gave them one authority from the my fathers book
on Sea Voyages, where it is mentioned that sailing had
been found effectual in the recovery from the dry belly¬
ach of the West Indies; - they immediately embarked.
--Luckily this trip did not no harm. -- The undertaking
of this year, -namely the journey to Edinburgh, which I told
them expressly it would never have occurred to me to
propose, as I could not promise that it would do
service, -was yet so simple in comparison of the
former undertakings, that on their saying they wished
her to go I readily agreed to it. Bye the bye it was
not till after they were gone that I knew of their having
travelled four in one chaise. -Even three was certainly
too many. --- With regard to home measures I have
been surprised two or three different times to learn
as I did accidentally, what their apothecarys bills came
to - from the things which during long attendances,
& in many instances contrary to my inclination, I
had been led to prescribe.

The best of all is that they are now very well
pleased with their having made their late journey, the
trouble & expence ↑of which↑ it seems they had said to one of their
connections they did not grudge.- Miss Jeanie has had
only one slight colic since she came home, & she has now

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had an interval of near four weeks, which flatters them
so much that they are hoping she is never to have another
fit. --- But I heartily beg pardon, Sir for troubling
you with saying threetimes more than I thought to have said
upon this subject.- My desire to stand well in your opini¬
on, and not ↑to↑ seem ready to do rash or thoughtless things
is the occasion of my troubling you. -When you think me
really wrong you know I will always wish you to tell
me of it. -- Their is not the least occasion for your answer¬
ing this letter -Mr Bell who will deliver it to you will
be so good as to show it to Mr & Mrs Blacklock, whom
I very much respect; & beg my best compliments to. --

✍ [Start of margin text][End of margin text]
Dr Gilchrist
Q
Miss McMurdo.
October--78.