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After dining with a number of Friends in Jamaica
about three miles from my own house, and Drinking rather freely for a
great part of the night, I rode home pretty much heated with liquor
without a Great Coat. When I got up next morning, I found my Face
very much inflamed, and a disagreeable feverish heat upon my Skin;-
I however attended to business as usual, as being under the necessity
of riding about fourteen miles that day. I thought it might be the means
of ↑[averting?] off↑ the feverish tendency. I reached Home with the greatest difficulty
at night, quite worn out; - the next morning the inflamation in my
Face was considerably increased - and my eyes were swelled to an uncommon
degree.- Allarmed at their appearances I sent for a Doctor, reputed
the best in the Parish, who ordered me to lose half a pint of blood, and
Physick freely - he obliged me at the same time to go to bed for, owing
to my walking about my Fever had not become regular.

As I ever had an aversion to bleeding I disregarded that
part of his prescription, and only took a dose of Salts. In the middle
of the night being the third from the time I was first seized, I became
so restless with an intollerable burning heat all over me, that I sat
up in the Bed and bled myself; I took better than half a pint of
Blood, and for a few hours found considerable relief. - But the Fever
returned, and I had it in two paroxysms, one about eleven o Clock in the
forenoon, and the other about eight o Clock at night - with very dark re¬
missions, during which I swallowed an amazing quantity of Bark to
little purpose, the flush in my Face still continuing as before. - Upon
the seventh day my Stomach would no longer retain the Bark; the Doctor
suspecting the cause bled me, and found my Blood in a high

When the Fever left me, I was if possible in a more deplorable
situation that before, Night and day tormented, with a constant irritation
in the soles of my Feet and the palms of my hands. Poultices of bread and
milk frequently applied, afforded me a momentary relief, so did strong
camphorated spirits, but what gave me greatest ease was keeping a Servant
constantly wetting them.

Finding that I recovered little or no Strength, and that
I could get no rest without large doses of Laudanum, and Tinct: of Gum
Guiacum, the Doctors advised me to go to Bath in Jamaica. - There I
remained for upwards of three months, drinking the Water and bathing
every day; - by which time I was able to move about a little upon Crutches,
but I had the most excruciating pains in the joints of my Knees and ancles
whenever I was raised from my Chair.

I was then directed to leave that country, & try what my
Native air would do for me. In the ship I recovered so far, that when

In about six months the burning pains in the soles of my
Feet and the palms of my Hands wore off, and I so far recovered the use of my
Hands as to be able to Write. I then rested well at night and began to pick
up Flesh. My recovery however to the State in which I am at present
was so very gradual and by such imperceptible degrees, that I could not say
at the end of a month I was stronger than at its beginning.

My Health has been for the most part pretty good. - I by
no means possess my former agility. - I have little or no spring in my
Toes; - nor are my Ancles as yet thoroughly braced. The soles of my
Feet continue still very tender, the numbness tho considerably worn off
has not entirely left them. When the pavement is any way uneven,
I walk with a great deal of pain.

There is a stiffness in my ancles immediately upon
my getting out of bed, which goes off, after I take a turn or two about
the Room; they still swell a little when I take much exercise on foot,
but not half so much as formerly.

N.B. While at Bath, I cast the Nails of my Fingers-
As it would be for my interest to go back to Jamaica, then to reside for some time -
I should be glad to know from the Doctor whether I could do it with Safety.

Case
To be presented to Dr. Cullen
✍Mr Donald Campbell
Campbelltown

1772