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Mr Taylor Concerning Mr Neilson

Tho I have received your letter only just
↑now↑ past ↑3↑ o'clock and other business renders it very difficult for me
to write, my anxiety and regard for Mr Neilson makes me desirous
to answer yours immediately.

I have long ago in Mr Neilson suspected some affection in
the great vessels near the heart and your present account con¬
firms these suspicions and makes me readily believe that your
opinion with respect to the state of the thorax ↑is well founded↑. In such circum¬
stances I believe there is little in the power of our Art and am
sorry to join also in your opinion that matters are hurrying on
to a fatal period. However we must do all we can to make his
passage easy and I would be very happy to contribute to his relief.
I don't think your bleedings were improper for tho such evacua¬
tions promote the effusion of water when any how or any where dis¬
posed to run off but the quantities you took away can do little
harm in that way and when such small quantities can give
relief for urgent symptoms I should not absolutely declare against
repeating the opening of a vein at proper intervals. For

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relieving his very troublesome flatulence you have sent him
the best carminative I know of and that is the Æther but un¬
luckily its effects are transitory and frequent repetition is apt
to render it familiar and useless. I wish I knew why you have
discharged the use of Laudanum. You may have very good
reason for it but till I know that I am disposed to think it
the most certain & effectual palliative we can employ and
particularly to obviate his flatulence. If you do employ it
you must care to obviate costiveness and for this the Sulphur
is extreamly proper. I don't think it is probable that we
can do much by diuretics but right to attempt it and
the safest is the Cream of Tartar which will ↑also↑ answer the purpose
of a laxative but give it in a liquid form half an ounce dis¬
solved in ten ounces of water and let this be taken in very
divided portions in the course of one day or two as it operates
and you shall find him bear it. It is possible that a ↑one↑blister
might give some relief to his breathing but it cannot be very
permanent & an Issue may be more so. You may therefore

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put a small blister between his shoulders for the sake of turning
a part of it into an Issue. I wrote a great part of this part of this last
night but could not with all my pains overtake the post & now tho I
have time I find no more to say at present but expect to hear
from you as often as you find occasion for any deliberation
or advice. I have a very particular regard for Mr Neilson and
shall most willingly bestow any pains upon his case

I find Mrs Neilsons complaint a very difficult one and doubt
if it can be cured till we shall have warmer weather
but in the mean time try the camphorated oil dropt in
to her ears at bedtime.