[Page 1]

For the Revd. Mr. Gordon

His ailment is not common but I have had
several examples of it. It is usually obstinate but
and tedious but not dangerous. I hope the
following measures may be of service to him

Let a blistering plaister of four inches in
length and three in breadth be applied to his
breast upon the part where the pain used to be
formerly severe.

When this is healed let him get on horseback
if the weather allows every day and even twice
a day chusing the cool of the morning and evening
His motion must be gentle but let it be to what
degree and to what length he easily bears.

Let him procure from Edinburgh some small
Phials of the purest Æther and let him use it
in the following manner. Take a Phial that

---

[Page 2]

will contain about three table spoonfuls of water pour
into it two spoonfuls of Spring water and upon that
pour a tea spoonful of the Æther Cork it immediately
with a good Cork and turn the phial upside down
and thus invert it and resting on the Cork Set it by
till it is proper to take it. When the pain of his
breast is violent and overwhelming he is to take this
dose. After shaking the phial a little let him
hold it still inverted over a tea Cup and pulling
out the Cork let the liquor fall into the Cup and
instantly to swallow it washing it down with a
mouthful or two of water. This I expect will
immediately give him relief and even prevent the
returns of his pain. I dont espect however that
the returns can be entirely prevented for some time
but let a dose be prepared in the manner above
directed be always ready at hand to be taken in
case of violent return. Such a dose he may take

---

[Page 3]

once a day but with this observation that as frequent
repetition diminishes the effects of the medicine
that seldom he takes it it will continue to be
the more effectual and at least if he finds it necess¬
ary to repeat it frequently the dose must be in¬
creased to a tea spoonful and half or two tea
spoonfuls.

The only other medicine I have to recom¬
mend is a dose of Laudanum of twenty five or
thirty drops ↑to be taken at bed time.↑. If he finds this to give him better
sleep and to prevent his dreaming he may take
such a dose frequently and I believe it may be of
service also in preventing the spasms in his breast
but in the use of this he must be governed by trials
minding what I have said above about repetition.
and increasing doses. Let him observe also that if
the laudanum seems to induce Costiveness he must
take a laxative medicine to remove it