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I received the pleasure of your very kind
letter, which you did me the honour of writing to me of the
6th Instant it was filled with the real sentiments of a friend;
as well as with the minute attention of the most anxious Physician,
for the good & happiness of his Patient, which I shall ever most
gratefully remember: and for which I return you my sincere
thanks, at the same time to beg leave to embrace this oppor¬
tunity, to request the liberty of breaking in upon your
more important thoughts & contemplations by saying a
little of the late situation of my health, w& the answer, on[ly]
desired in your most idle hours, and convenience –– I went
lately to Brighthelmstone, and tried the warm sea water
bathing –– I remained only a fortnight; I saw there Sir
Lucas Pepys –– by whose advice I took it frequently
till I came to five minutes only at a time –– I found no
benefit –– & he thought so –– and desired me to give it
up –– he put me on a Regimen, which I sent my Nephew
Maxwell last week – with the course of medecines he likewise
put me on –– which I do own I have not stuck up to ––
Altho' I esteem the Gentleman as a sensible man –– My
feelings of late have been very complecated as usual, I had
almost forgot to tell you that Sir Lucas; asked me if I
corresponded with you, if I did, he desired me to say to
you that he believed my disorder lay mostly, if not wholy
in my Colon –– that was when I was speaking of the Dia¬
phragm &c –– yesterday after taking your medecine Castor
Oil, and Tinc: of Senna –– and its having proper effects ––
the Sulphur &c having none for two days before –– I began
drinking porter & water at dinner, with a few glasses of
Port wine –– and Porter & water at night, in place of Asses
milk –– I had rode out in a Phaeton paying proper atten¬
tion, to your advice, of little bodily exertion –– I drove about
15 Miles in all, was a little fatigued, but with all I sleept

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better last night, then I have done these 12 Months –– from
10 OClock Evening to I fancy about 4 or 5 this morning being
day light –– while it continues you may believe I shall
go on –– without asking any questions, and that one of the
disagreeable complaints I have –– the pain –– difficulty - & frequency
of making water –- during the night –– I had none of last
night, & only made it once on getting up –– the above is
one of the severest & most troublesome of my complaints
I take sometimes very strange turns - in general I can
only walk with difficulty –– from the affection of my
breathing & feelings –– Just in the lower part of my
Stomach, and sometimes in my lower belly, with great
weakness –––– there are times that I feel inclination to
walk, & do it without the least uneasiness or difficulty
for the length of a mile indeed Sir I suprise myself
often, the most disagreeable thing at present is a deafness
in both ears –– which has attacked me lately (in common
I am particular in the quickness in that sense) I impute
it –– if it is not from the same cause of all my other com¬
plaints, from being out in my Phaeton – two evenings, a
little latter then usuall –––– before I got your letter no
passage in my belly but by force –– in general your
Medicine –– I have given up Asses Milk to my breakfast
which I had gone on with for a fortnight –– thinking
it might be the cause of binding me the more – the sight
of my Eys –– is, as I was risen from a Bed
of long sickness –– this always
which discompose me some¬
what –– lately almost every night ––
great cramps in my feet when in bed – but I do think ––
it is sometimes pain & not Cramps, as they touch only
particular parts, the hollow of my feet –– and about my
great Toes –– my appetite less then usual –– I take no
Still drops –– I have very good Spa water, lately sent
me by C: Congalton –– but dont drink it –– sometimes
great thumping at my breast –– and allways when I
lay down on a Couch –– quick pulse allways from

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75 to 84 palpitations –– intermissions a disagreeable
feeling with a kind of short sickness at my Stomach
(about my left side, and left Arm at the same time worse
in my Appitite –- which I do not like –– but I shall
keep to –- my little Wine –– You direct –– is honey & the
Jellies of fruits, which I have in great perfection ––
right for me, or fresh fruit, which I have also so ––
I wear flannel allways next my Skin – when I ride
on horseback, which I often did before I received your
last letter –- I never felt any great inconvenience
when I either walked the horse – trotted or went faster
"Yes a little upon canttering, it affected my breath
and my feelings in that respect was all on the lower
part of my Stomach – and my Diaphragm – I generally
went from 3 to 4 Miles out & back again, sometime[s]
immediately after dinner; about a month or 6 week[s]
ago, I was taken with the suffication, and very gre[at]
[s]hortness of breathing –– so that I was obliged to be
{illeg}sed & laid down on my Couch; & it wa[s] {illeg}
{illeg}s before I recover'd –– The almost total [want of]
sleep, at best not more then two or 3 Hours ––
of a night –– is one of my greatest miseries ––––
speaking affects me greatly & sometimes threatens
to bring on suffication –––– the want of Sleep brings
on the Night mare frightfull & unterrupted dream[s]
& all other the most disagreeable concomitants ––
thirsts –– my headachs – have been less frequent of
late –– seldom have a real & healthy desire to eat
my appetite very little –– without the real desire
to eat –––– if I exisst I shall certainly make an
excursion to see you next Year –– Again I must
beg to be forgiven for the long detail of myself
And believe me to be, with sincere regard & Esteem

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Dr. William Cullen
Edinburgh