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Mrs Harrison (who will deliver this letter to you),
applied to me on the 13th. of March last; she then complained of a Scirrhus
of her Breast, which at times were attended with sharp stinging pains.

I immediately put her under a course of Extract: Cicutæ, beginning with
small doses & increasing gradually as her Stomach would bear it till She
was able to take 48 grains every day without any trouble. Her Belly was
ordered to be kept open with Magnesia, & her diet consisted chiefly of Milk
& Vegetables. There was no external application made to her Breast
except a little Wool, contrived to keep it moderately warm & free from accidents.

The Magnesia not being able to keep her Belly open without taking very
large doses, it was omited; & in place of it she drank half apint of fresh
Wort every morning, or as often as it was found necessary to keep her
Belly open, & this had a very good effect. She likewise took alarge quantity
of Millepedes every day. By this course the pain of her Breast has
gradually lessened, & her Spirits are much better; but the appearance of
her Breast during the Course, & at this present time is exactly the same
as when I saw it at first. Therefore, I shall not trouble you with a
long detail, as Mrs Harrison is very able to give you every information

Mrs Wyvill who will wait upon you along with Mrs Harrison has
laboured under a complaint similar to the above ever since December last
& has taken the same medicines & followed the same regimen that Mrs
Harrison have done. She has likewise been let blood at three different times,
twice to relieve the pain of her Breast, & once for a violent stitch of her left
side, & it always had the desired effect. She likewise took a Diet Drink
& some of the Spring Juices by the directions of a Female friend, the
particulars of Which I do not exactly know.

When I first saw Mrs Harrisons Wyvills Breast in December last
it was alittle inflamed, not very hard, at intervals very painful, &
considerably swelled, which pain & swelling extended to the Axilla & down
the inside of her Arm. About six Weeks ago little dry scales appeared on
her Breast & small White Vesications round the Nipple, about a fort¬
night ago the Vesications begun to discharge a brown matter which
it has continued to do ever since.

They have both a very great dread of their disorder, particularly
Mrs Wyvill; I beg therefore, you will encourage them as much as you
can with propriety.

Doctor William Cullen
Professor of Medicine in the University of
Edinburgh