[Page 1]

[Page 2]

[Page 3]

Dr. Black and I have considered Mr. Goodsirs letter
but before we should say any thing upon it we wished
for his report upon the trial he was to make of the Sal
Catharticus amarus. As however you have given us no
notice of this we suppose that you have not heard
from him and we shall no longer delay offering our
best advice. From all we can observe we are persua¬
ded that the violent pains Mr. Bethune has of
late complained of are of the flatulent kind and
depend upon some obstruction of his intestines pro¬
bably from some hardened fæces in the colon &
we are particularly confirmed in this from Mr.
Goodsirs postscript telling you that he had been
greatly relieved by the Castor Oil, Daffys Elixir
& Laudanum. This leads us and we think
should lead Mr. Goodsir to find some purgative
that will both sit on his stomach and certainly
go through him & when that is done he may

As to the purgative if Mr Goodsir has found that
the Sal catharticus has answered the purpose we have no
objection to it; only observe that operation of Daffys Elixir
or as we name it the Tinct. Senn. comp. joined with the
Salt will make it both sit better & go better through

If the Sal catharticus in the shape he has tried it
or in the shape we have just now mentioned does not
answer let him try the following

If this shall prove weak he may in the next
trial add Tinct. Senn. comp. ℥ſs.

We suppose that you will transmitt this letter to
Mr. Goodsir & you will please at the same time desire
him to be a little more full & exact in his reports. He
should have told what stools Mr. Bethune had and
of what kind they were, with every other particular
that occurs. We are extremely anxious to relieve
the very worth Gentleman. I am for Dr. Black &
myself