[Page 1]

[Page 2]

[Page 3]

[Page 4]

When I last had the honour of writing to You I mentioned
that the sediment in Master Woods urine was much diminished
perhaps at this time it is not greater than in an healthy state.
The deposition however is still mucous & the urine itself is pale,
and [crude?].

The discharge by expectoration is considerably less. It is
ropy & tenacious. But in a morning after several efforts to
expectorate he discharges a thick hard substance, which
sinks in water. I have not yet examined it. The cough is
much less. But with these favourable appearances I am sorry to
add M. Woods strength sinks daily, & his appetite is much
less. Tho he still takes a good quantity of aliment in the 24
hours. Perhaps quite sufficient for all the purposes of
nature. The nurishment that he formerly took was very con¬
siderable. He hardly passed a single hour without taking
either food, or medicine. Had it all been converted into
aliment he would certainly have felt its good effects before
now. Your excellent admonition festina lent ¹ is perhaps
equally proper for the regulation as well as quality in his
Food. May not the powers of nature be injured by too much
as well as by too little even of the most proper nourishment↑?↑
And can we never err by overpowering the tender digestive
faculties of our delicate patients? I have been led into
this train of Ideas by reflecting upon the recovery of two
or three patients convalescent from fevers, & other Diseases,
who evidently grew better by abstracting part of their
nourishment. And I am inclined to hope that Mr. W. himself
is an instance in confirmation of my opinion. For since the

compt. in his throat, which will be mentioned in another part of
the Letter has prevented his taking the usual quantity of food
he has been at least stationary. Before that time he sunk
rapidly.

What he now complains of & it is what has distressed
him for several Days is a dryness, soreness, & sometimes heat
in his mouth, fauces & trachea particularly a soreness
in his tongue & lips. But he is never hot, or cold - his
feet & hands never sweat burn, & he never sweats. ✍P 130 ✍
Stools are sometimes more than one in the twenty four
hours. Dr. Clarke a physician in this Town saw M. Wood
on monday Antimonials with opium are given in small
quantities with Spirit: Minder: - Mudges inhaler was
used a few nights ago & he afters. went into the warm
bath for a few minutes. He had an easy night. The
surface of his Body was warmer than usual
through the night, but he had no sensible perspiration
His skin in the morning felt to him softr, & easier
but it is still very dry, & hard.

For several days, he has taken Lemonade with a
large proportion of sugar, & it has the effect of strengthg.
his bowels. His milk which he now bears
tolerably well is mixed with Seltzer water.
Womans milk has been recommended in preference
to, or along with the Asses milk. Before your Letter
arrived M. Wood had laid aside the Bark Draughts

they made him sleepy. He began with a grain of
Cicuta twice a Day. It is now increased to three
grains. It does not produce any sensible effects.
M. W.'s not taking the Cicuta sooner was not
owing to my hesitations. It had been given before
with bad success, & Mr. Wood was [so?] fearful
that its use was deferred from time to time.
He is so much weaken'd that Mr. Wood cannot
think of taking him to Bristol in his
reduced state.

Dr. Cullen
Edinburgh

Turn at
Stilton

Dr. Harrison
C. Mr Wood
Apl. 1786
V. XVIII. P. 94