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Since I had the pleasure of seeing
You last Month, some of my Complaints as to my ↑want of↑ health
have increased, therefore I take the liberty to mention them
to You & request the favour of your advice.

On my Journey from Edinburgh my Cough recurred, which
continued till within these few days & now I have a little teazling
or Roughness at my Breast, & my Breathing is not so easy
especially if I walk up any of our Streets that are a little steep
or when I at any time read aloud tho' but for ten minutes
at a time. Some days after I came home I had a
coldness in my feet, & soon after a pain in them particularly
at the point of my great Toes, which yet recurs several
times in a day. One of my Legs / say my left Leg / swelled
a little in the outside, which is not yet gone off. The points
of my Fingers turn cold & a kind of Numbness if any time
from the Fire especially in the forenoon, but what I find
the greatest Uneasiness from is the wind at my stomach
& the pain or heat in my left side. The wind in my
Bowels is most uneasy for me when in Bed &
sometimes that occasion a pain in my Breast

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it interrupts my Rest – for several nights past I have not
slept well at all & there is often a noise in my Bowels
particularly in my left side; which is a little easier when I
get up any Wind or pass some downward – I have little or no
more pain in my side than when in Edinburgh, but I often
have a heat in it which comes up & does not not continue
in one place; sometimes it comes round to my Belly
especially if I lean forward, & at at other times in the small
of my Back – I have frequently a pain in my Back &
Shoulders sometimes in my Thighs & in my Feet as mentioned
already & there has been for some days a heat in the soles
of my Feet in the afternoon. –––– I have studied to follow
the directions You gave me as exactly as possible; except
as to the Issue in my side, which I have not yet
had put in, being apprehensive it would be very
troublesome & be ready to prevent my riding on horseback,
but if you shall think it still necessary from the Complaints
I have & that an Issue in my left arm would not answer
the same End, I shall certainly comply with what You
recommend. As to the Regimen You prescribed, I have
deviate in one instance by the urgent [Uneas?] advice of
some of my Friends & that is taking a Glass sometimes
Two of Wine mixed with [Wa]ter at Dinner, not a drop

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of that or any other liquo[r dur]ing the rest of the day
do I take –– I was urged to it from my Spirits
not being so good as formerly, & that I thought myself
weaker. Please say if You think this quantity or
any at all will hurt Me. –– For these few days
past I feel a little weakness in my Limbs especially
at my Knees. –– I continue taking the Bark &
have now but a very little sweating in the morning
I drink about a mutckin of Cows Milk warm before
I rise out of Bed & rub my Limbs with a
Brush when I rise. –– As there is no comfort
in Life without health, & that I would make every
sacrifice to regain that valuable Blessing, I shall
intreat the favour of Your advice as to what You
think may be conducive to promote my Recovery
which I will endeavour to follow & return a gratefull
situati sense of same. – Expecting to be favoured
with your answer as soon as convenient. I have
the Honour to be with great Respect, Sir

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Doctor William Cullen
Physician In
Edinburgh

To paid

✍
Mr Dingwall
December 1778
9. p. 94.