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Youl remember that Our Vicar Mr. Allen
Consulted you last Summer about a Suppression of
Urine which he then Complained of you then ordered
him the Lixiv: Caustic: and the Decoct: Bardan:
together with a proper Regimen of diet & exercise
these things he persevered in with great Accuracy
for several Months and at last got perfectly well
of his Complaints. But whether he had erred in
diet or received a Cold I cannot say but he was Seized
about three Weeks ago with the Suppression of Urine to
a very great degree with a Swelling in his Legs difficulty
of breathing and a continual Cough especially when in
bed these Symptoms went of for six days by taking
a few doses of Jalap: & Crem. tart. & by using the
Decoct. Bard with the Lixivium as before but by
getting a fresh Cold the Symptoms returned with great
Violence and does not seem to give way to any thing

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His legs Swell much towards the evening, his difficulty
of breathing and Cough, is really untolerable; he does not
make above 8 Ounces of Water in the 24 hours, he has
no thirst, nor frequency in his pulse, but weak, and
feeble, perspires little or none, which he did in Summer
(and when he consulted you) most plentifully; is quite
confined to the house and has a bad Appetite. The
Hernia Scrotalis which he shewed to you is much
enlarged to an intolerable bulk, and I am almost
convinced that it is Complicated with an Hydrocele;
in Short an Universal deluge seems to threaten this
worthly good Man; I am going to try him this evening
with a Solution of half dram of Terebinth: Venit & a
gentle Anodyne. Turpentine Clysters I have Often recom¬
mended, but he will by no means ever Allow one to be
Administred -- As there is no tendency in his habit to
a dropsical disease but merely occasioned from the
Kidneys not performing their proper Office And they
likely stuffed up with some glairy sabulous matter
contracted by an indolence peculiar to a sedentary way
of Living what wou'd you think of a blister applied over

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the Region of the Kidneys. He is perfectly free of
pain in these parts or indeed any where else. --
The pil. Scillitic pharmacopoeia Edinensis ¹ , he has taken
in great quantities, with severall other things but
nothing as yet prevails -- I am just now in the
hurry of our Market day and hopes youl excuse
inaccuracy as the Fly ² is just agoing My best,
Wishes and most respectfull Compliments Attend you
all And I am dear Sir

N: B. As we shall likely Correspond
with you for some time shall say
nothing at present About recompensing
you for your trouble &c. hopes to hear
from you for next Fly if possible ----

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✍

Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh

Mr Turnbull
Concerning
Mr Allene
9th January 1777
V. VI. p.82.