[Page 1]

Your opinion and advice are desired on the following case
Mrs Morison is now about 42 years of age - She was married at
seventeen - bore many children and has had many Miscarriages,
under some of which she suffered much & was reduced by floodings;
so that in general her Constitution has been rather delicate;. Her
usual time of menstruating was at the end of every three weeks,
and it lasted rather longer than ordinary. In the Intervals, she
was often much distress'd with the Fluor Albus; and, these
last fifteen or sixteen years (especially in time of pregnancy)
she has had frequent Attacks of the most excruciating [Cholics?]
I ever saw. These lasted sometimes longer, and sometimes shorter
but generally went of very suddenly, and were always follow'd
by Jaundice - Under all these Disasters however, (and she has
never had long Intervals since I have been acquainted with her)
she preserved a chearfulness and gaiety of Spirit which enabled
her to enjoy life more than most people who had no ailment,
till January last was twelve Months, that she bore a fine healthy
child who is now living; From that time, she thinks the weakness
in her Back & Loins became remarkably worse, and the fluor¬
Albus increased; tho' her Labour was natural and easy and she
had a tolerably good tho' slow recovery - She went to the Country
in Summer and recovered in some Degree, tho not firmly - She
returned to the Town in November and soon complained more.
The pains in her back & Haunches became intolerable, so that
for the most part, through the winter she had little rest through
the nights but by the assistance of Laudanum - a small Dose
of that indeed, did the business for a great while but as the ailment
increased, which it has been gradually doing, larger Doses & these
more frequently repeated have become necessary - Her pulse, till
within these few Weeks notwithstanding the frequent very acute
pains in her back & Bellywas seldom quickened . The Menses returned
at the stated periods, and ↑nearlyin↑ in the usual quantity, pretty regularly. They
were rather scanty as otherways--She returned to the Country about

---

[Page 2]

six Weeks ago in hopes that Country Air and a Milk Diet would
soon recruit her and enable her to take the cold bath - but her hopes
have been miserably frustrated - The Fluor Albus and of course
the pains in her back & Belly have daily increased - Her pulse has
quickened, and she has had very frequently, heats & flushings -
Her pulse has been sometimes up to a hundred, but not often -
She is often distress'd with a Stranguary, and likewise with the piles
which gave insufferable pain on her going to Stool. I never
saw anything like the ordinary Discharge from the Uterus. It is
incredibly copious, ill coloured and fœœtid - Every ordinary remedy
failing, I put her upon the hemlock about 12 Days ago. I give
it in the form of Bolus With Conserve of Roses to disguise it - but as
yet without any good Effect. Last Thursday which was just the
within a few Days of the time she should have menstruated, she
had a very great profluvium Mensium - From the Account I had
of it she lost near four pounds of blood that Day - a great deal
of it in very large Clots and with excessive pain. On voiding
these Clots, the pains and Discharge ceased and gave place to the green
and sometimes brownish coloured fœtid Matter which has been since
flowing more & more abundantly - She thinks however, that since
that large Evacuation of blood, the pains in her back & Loins
have been more tolerable, but that they have been worse in the
lower region of her belly - and I think her pulse has not
been so quick - These two last Days I have seen her, which
were last Sunday & yesterday it did not exceed 86 in the minute.
From the constant use of Laudanum (for she is obliged to take
it at least every night and morning if not oftener to the quantity
of thirty or 40 Drops at a time) she is very costive; and I find
that very difficult to remedy - The gentlestLaxatives irritate and
increase her pains, and the piles under the taking of Clysters very
painful and inconvenient - I must mention one circumstance
more before I end this long Detail - About seven years ago, her
husband contracted a Gonnorhoea abroad, which left a Gleet that
was not removed when he returned home. That Gleet did not leave
him for 12 Months or more, all which time he was cohabiting with his
Wife without any reason for Suspicion of her being infected - for she

---

[Page 3]

had no new Complaint during that time; and has since that [bore?]
several living healthy children - He however is very unhappy
under the Suspicion that this purulent fœœtid Discharge from
the Uterus at present may may be the consequence of Infection
catch'd from him seven Years ago - I have been at pains
to persuade him of the great Improbability of it, or rather
the impossibility of it; but it will be still more satisfying
to him if you obviate it in your letter - If you should think
it worthwhile to make a further trial of the Circuta, Please
not to mention the name of the medicine, as I shall be obliged
to show your letter, and I wish to conceal that she is taking
Circuta -- Mrs Morrison was an intimate friend of Mrs {illeg}
who had a bad Opinion of that Medicine - and though {illeg}
know that Mrs Morrison is prejudiced, I would no[t?] {illeg}
run the risque of hurting any further the charact[er?] {illeg}
good a medicine - Mrs Tucker died died about a fort[night?] {illeg}
Please to receive a guinea Note inclosed -

---

[Page 3]

To
Doctor William Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh

✍ 1774