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I take the Liberty, not from the Claim of any Perso¬
nal Acquaintance but from a Confidence in your Benevolence, which
I possess in common with all those who have been taught at Your
Feet, to solicit Your Advice, in a Case which I should not have pre¬
sumed to lay before You, Were my anxiety concerning the Event less
cogent, or my Interest in it merely Professional. It is, Sir, the Case of
my Dear Sister. She is aged 30, Married, but without a Child; of
a Habit delicate and even fragile; subject to no Hereditary Ailment,
excepting a Debility of Stomach the Various effects of which she long
experienced, untill they were almost totally removed by a Course of the
Bark about a Year ago; and from that Period, she dates the Origin of
her Present Complaint. It is a most distressing Periodical Head ach
of uncertain interval and continuance (the Interval Generally three
weeks, the Continuance, one): the Paroxysm is always at night and the
Pain while she is awake and sensible, is violent in degree, General,
↑Internal↑ rather stupefying rather than Acute, difficult of description, pulsatory and
accompanied with restlessness and anxiety. On falling Asleep, its
Effects make her suppose it to be Greatly aggravated. These are violent
startings of the whole Body, Bouncing of the Head from the Pillow,
Moaning, slight twitchings of the Muscles of the Face (of all which she
has an obscure recollection) Horrid Dreams and at length a Bursting
from her sleep with a violent scream, in a feverish heat and sometimes
in a Profuse Sweat. If again she falls asleep, she must submit to
similar agony, nor does the Head Ach abandon her thro' the Day (al¬
though alleviated by Tea or Coffee) but continues less intensely, attended
with Muscular Soreness, with Chilliness, Redness of Eyes but a

As to negative Description; she has at present no Symptoms of
Pulmonic Affection, no marked indication of Worms. Her Complaint
is not affected by Diet, not even by flesh Suppers when permitted, for
a Trial to use them. Of Medicines a Variety have been tryd
general and topical, some from Theory, and others from a sort of
random Empirical rashness; but a remedy is yet to be found.
The Bark simple and compounded with Valerian &c- a Variety of
Anthelmintics- Zinc - The Cold Bath- Country Air and Exercise
Leeches- Blisters &c &c have had little or no effect on this most
obstinate complaint. I much fear from a late increase of her
nocturnal sweatings, and a sort of Treacherous Fever that
seems to threaten her, that she will become Phthisical -

I have condensed the History of the Case, more than my
inclination would dictate, or perspecuity might require, fearful
as I am the ne morer tua tempera, ne in Publica peccum

I am conscious of my forwardness in this matter, but
the feelings of a Brother who values his Sister as he does his
own Life, pleads strongly. Dear Sir, and much revered Master
if you can spare time sufficient to answer this Letter, in
a few Lines, You will confer an obligation that will be
remembered long after You have forgotten it. I am, Sir,

Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh

Drennan
Q
His Sister
Novr 1780
XI. p.110