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Miss Douglas

I have the honour of yours of the 5th.
current and as I enter into the Subject of it with
great concern I answer you in course of Post
without communication or Consultation with any¬
body here.

I am heartily concerned for any ailment affec¬
ting Miss Douglas, but I must say that the
present tho' sufficiently disagreeable, is, much
safer than any breast Complaint and I hope
we shall get the better of this very soon. Its
coming on so long before the usual time, with
what followed after it, shows a weakness in
certain parts that I hope may be mended and
I have here inclosed a Prescription which I
suppose you may get properly enough dispen¬
sed at Boulogne, only desiring that they may
be governed by the London or Edinburgh Dispensatory

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The medicine are an Electuary and an infusion. Of
the Electuary Miss Douglas is to take the bigness of a
filbert wrapped in a wafer twice a day an hour before
dinner and Supper washing down each dose with a
small Cupful of the infusion.

There is certainly nothing better for Miss Douglas
health than much fresh air and gentle exercise but
it happens unluckily that much walking is bad
for her present complaint and that exercise in
a Carriage if it was not a French Carriage would
be much safer. I would not have her lay aside
her walking altogether but desire it may be
always gentle and never long at one time, and both
with respect to degree and duration that it be
absolutely without fatigue and that this be par¬
ticularly observed towards the end of a month.

The times of your diet after being a little
accustomed to it is of no consequence but the qua¬
lity of it may be of much and I suspect that the
pains and Cramp of the stomach which Miss
Douglas has complained of may be owing to a greater
quantity of fruit than Miss Douglas had been
accustomed to and tho' I would not forbid them after

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dinner I would have them let alone entirely after Supper
and at the same time the legumes or any thing from the
garden. I suspect it was Meat at Supper that gave the
frightful dream you mention and therefore I would have
every thing solid avoided and her Suppers made of barley
Rice, or Sago with or without milk as she finds this agree
with her. If She takes the grain without milk let it
be also without wine and with a little Cinnamon and
Sugar only. In the enclosed paper I have added the Pre¬
scription of a powder which if the pains of the Stomach
or heart burn continue She may take once or
twice a day when the Stomach is uneasy. You
give me an account of your Dinners and
Suppers but none of your breakfast and if
that happens to be your former one of Tea I hold it
to be at present very improper and the french one of
Raisins and wine is no less so. Let it be of milk with
a good deal of water; or if Miss pleases Gruel with
a little milk. I think I have been hitherto right in
avoiding Cold bathing and I would do so for a little still
tho' if the present complaints should continue I may
think of it. I understand your situation at Boulogne
very well as I have had particular accounts of it from
the writings of Des Mers a Physician of Boulogne and have
only to observe that the lower town is a damp place and
much exposed to rains from the West. I dont know

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what attachment you may have to Boulogne but for health I
would have preferred some place in Champaigne or Burgundy
and that also for the language. Wherever you are let me know
how you go on and if I can get Miss Douglas well I shall be
anxious about no other reward for my labour.

Make my affectionate compliments to Miss Douglas and believe
me most sincerely and respectfully ↑to be↑ hers and Madam

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For Miss Douglas