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I have been desired to write Miss Forbes's case
to you, about whom Mrs Scott spoke lately to you. She came
over from the Highlands about a fortnight ago to shew me her
Knee; It was the first time I had seen or heard of it. I found
a very considerable puffy Swelling round the whole Joint of the
Knee especially on the fore part round the Patella, and on the
Inside - There is no degree of discolouring or Inflammation
on any part of it, nor is it painful to the touch, excepting in
one part on the inside - and that, but slightly - It is nine
Months since she first felt some pain in that Knee - She
had a Menstrual Obstruction for some Months before and
after; but has been regular for some Months past - She
never was sensible of having received any hurt upon
it - The Knee was painful but a few Weeks before
the Swelling began, and the Swelling has been gradually
increasing - It is perfectly easy when she sits with the
Knee bent, but is very stiff & painful when she gets
first up & attempts to walk - After walking about
a while it becomes easier - She apprehends that lately,
the Thigh immediately above the Swelling has shrunk
& become a little smaller than the other, and I believe
it is so - It is evidently a White Swelling - Before
I saw her she had been adviced to use poultices of
the Hemlock Root which she had been doing for a
Week or two, and she thought with some Advantage -
I advised her to continue the use of fomentations and
poultices made with the Hemlock leaves, which can now
be got fresh; and (as I am a warm friend to Hemlock)
I advised her likewise to take it internally, and give

Along with this, I send you the Small pox History
which you desired to see - There is certainly something
difficult in it - I cannot determine how it is - If it was
the Small pox that the Children were first inoculated
from, Mr Wilsons youngest Child has had them twice -
at least, the first Appearance upon his Arm, altho without
fever or consequent Eruption, I believe would have
satsify'd Mr Sutton that he was exempted from any
future Infection - If it was not the Small pox, then,
it woud appear, that there is a pustular Eruption which
if a person undergoes, disqualifies for a while at least,
for receiving Infection from the Small pox - I beg to
know your Opinion and to have your reflections upon it -
I read to Mr Wilson & Mr Colquhoun a long while ago
when the facts were recent & when they could easily
have corrected what was wrong, the Notes I had taken,
and from which I had (↑have↑) copied what I send you. They
agreed that as far as they knew or were concerned
that the facts were fairly related -

For Doctor William Cullen
Edinburgh