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To Mr John Duncanson Physician at Inverary for a Child
of Campbell Silvercraigs ---- ✍

Your Letter of the 30th. past came here on wednesday
but being in the Country I did not get time to answer in
Course –– What may at bottom of the fits which have
now so frequently recurred I will not positively determine ––––
there is no suspicion of the nurse's milk nor any marks
of its being ill digested,neither is there any marks or

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symptoms of worms and therefore the suspicion lies especially
upon the teeth. It is indeed early but that does not exclude
the suspicion and the slavering and thrusting the fingers in
the mouth give some grounds for it. However I must say
that it is not certain, and there may be some latent
matter affecting the Nervous System which we cannot dis¬
cover and the return of these fits at a stated hour gives
a strong suspicion of it. With respect to the conduct of
the case this is my advice. Let there be no blooding which
tho' proper at first does not answer to be repeated. A dose
of Rhubarb may be properly given frequently, but I would give
it as a stomachic rather than as a purgative and at least the
effect this way should be very little. Along with this and
sometimes without I would give an Absorbent and as the child
is disposed to an open belly I would prefer the prepared chalk to
Magnesia. I propose the Absorbent because tho' no acidity
appears at present it is in children and in such a Case
to be constantly apprehended. Besides these remedies I wou'd
have a perpetual Issue made in his neck taking care how¬
ever that the dressing with the Issue ointment does not
prove irritating so as to bring on fitsin which case the
perpetual must be changed for a pea Issue. With all this
you must watch the progress of the teeth, and either upon
much swelling of the Gums or the near approach of the
tooth you may scarify the Gum a little with advantage.
If without your having any cause to assign for it you find
the fits continue you must try the following medicine

One of these doses are to be given in a little
breast milk every night and morning but if they
are found to give no disturbance to the stomach or
belly the dose may be encreased to double, triple or
quadruple, and before they are brought

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that length they will stop the fits, or if then
they do not, they may be laid aside. When I can be of
more service you will let me know.