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Mr Foster Senr. of Berwick

I wrote you yesterday morning by Mr
Foster himself but must now write more fully as I shall
[grudge?] no pains to relieve a person for whom I have so much
regard. His case I take to be this. Like every person who
has resided some time in a very warm climate he has been
exposed to a redundancy of bile which the cold of this country
and ↑a↑ particular application of it he was exposed to, has put
in motion and thrown upon his bowels. His disease then
is a bilious Diarrhea, but with a considerable irritability
of his guts and almost a [Aniteric?] disposition. To get the
better of this I think Opiates and Astringents are absolutely
necessary and by a prescription which Mr Foster will show
you, you will perceive that I have prescribed accordingly.
By the first trial it has done as much as I desire and
it must depend upon what happens to day to determine whe¬
ther or not it has done too much. If the looseness has re¬
turned you will certainly repeat the anodyne to night and
so continue to do according to the State of the looseness

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diminishing or increasing the dose of Tinct. Thebaica as
you see occasion. At the same time I would wish to correct
the sharpness of the fluids and mend the tone of the guts
and for these purposes I prescribed the powders as in my
letter of yesterday morning and these too you will repeat
or omitt as they seem to agree with his bowels, taking care
particularly, that even the small quantity of rhubarb inten¬
ded as a Strengthener, does not prove too stimulant, On
the other hand if your anodynes seem to bind him too much
not only continue the rhubarb but also change the Oculi
Cancri for an equal quantity of Magnesia. Whether
you take the one or other course if the looseness goes on you
may give him the Infusion prescribed below to wash down
the powders. At present I don't think he will bear either
Bark or bitters as I believe they will purge too much and
at any rate I will not advise them till I hear from you
again. I say no more of medicines at present and with
respect to regimen I gave you the substance of my opinion
yesterday morning. There is a circumstance in Mr Fosters

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Case wich disturbs me a good deal. It is some degree of
fever increased towards evening. He says it has come on
very lately and I hope it shall go again very soon but in
the meantime his regimen must be directed by it. Tho it
should be very moderate I would have him very sparing of all
fermented or spirituous liquors especially towards evening.
I would be sorry to take him from animal food at dinner
but if the feverishness continue he must be very sparing and take
only very light things, and at supper no kind of animal food
can be admitted. When you shall be pleased to write
me I shall particularly desire ↑to know↑ the state of his pulse
and the state of his diet, and you may depend upon
both my punctuality and attention. With respectfull Com¬
pliments to Mr Foster and his companions I am very much

For M. Forster Esqr