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For the Right Honourable The Earl of Erroll

I am of opinion that his Lordship's ailments depend especially
on a weakness of his bowels. Some consequences of that which his Lordship has
been threatened with seem now to be going off & what we have to do at present
seems to be to strengthen the Stomach & Gutts & if we can do that I expect that
every symptom will disappear. One of the best means of Strengthening the bowels
is much fresh air & frequent moderate exercise & the best manner of taking
this is on Horseback but as the Season is now becoming uncertain, & cold is to be
carefully avoided it will be often necessary for his Lordship to employ a carriage &
tho this will not do well as going on horseback it is always better than
sitting at home. With this Exercise his Lordship must manage his diet. At dinner
his Lordship should if possible take always a bit of boiled meat & it may be of any
plain kind his Lordship likes best avoiding the heavier kinds & employing the
plain cookery of roasting & boiling without any frying or baking. While my
Lords appetite is he will not be able to take a full meal of animal food.
In either case his Lordship should fill up his meal with some kind of
pudding while the distension of the bowels remains both will not be
proper but when that distension is gone as I hope it shall be soon, a
plain broth without any vegetables will be a proper enough part of
my Lords meal. Both now & for a long time to come all garden things will be
hazardous for Lord Errol & at least they must be taken very spearingly. The
lighter kinds of white fish are not improper but they should be taken
seldom & sparingly. The same thing is to be said of Eggs. Either for breakfast
& supper soft, boild' Egg may be taken, but once a day is enough for that
kind of meat. Besides an Egg at supper some kind of grain as Rice,
barley or Sago may be taken & is the most proper as neither meat nor
vegetables are so. Neither at Breakfast or at any other time must any
tea be taken. Coffee is safer but should not be taken largely or of a strong
kind. A weak Chocolate is safer than either. If my Lord takes coffee he may
at same time take some dry tost with a little Butter. For ordinary drink
his Lordship must take no small beer but water with a little gin in it.
At Dinner or Supper he may take 2 or 3 Glasses of white wine
but some good Heock is safest. No kind of red wine is safe. The
rubbing of the Belly with oild' fingers both night & morning & rubbing
of the rubbing of the legs & feet every morning with the flesh brush must be
continued. In the way of medicine I am happy to think that
much less is necessary than appeared to be so a little while ago.
All I can think necessary now is some medicine to Correct the Sharpness that
may be in, the Stomach & bowels & to Strengthen these so was to
prevent the Sharpness of the humours & the flatulency that has of
late been troublesome. For these purposes I have pre¬
scribed a powder to be taken every morning & an Electuary
& Infusion to be taken twice a day. All these

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medicines are to be continued only for a fortnight or at least not
longer till I am advised of their Effects & of his Lordship's state of health