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I was favoured with yours yesterday
morning in answer to a letter I write to Mr Stewart:
to whome we are much indebted for his Civility to my freind
I think it now neeedless to say more about his Rheum¬
atick Complaints, the Situation he is in at present is
what calls for assistance; He is in that low way that all
that can be done either with aquaintance amusement
cannot rouse him from his present state he wishes
to see nobody and his nearest freinds are most dissag¬
reeable to him which makes it very difficult to administer
any medcine that might be of use {illeg} As I said in
Mr. Stewarts letter a short time after he was seized
with this melancholy I tried the Bark and continued
giving it for about a week at the rate of three half
Drams a day but could not continue longer; I then
tried the Camphire Join'd with a little Nitre and gott
him to swallow two doses a day of 10 grains I mean of
the Camphire butt that he soon tired off I think in
about a week; with regard to Laxatives as he had
been very Costive for a long while I first gave him
several doses of Glauber Salts two ounces to a

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dose butt had no Effect I then added to the above dose first
one ounce of Syrup of Buckthorn and afterwards an
ounce and half butt with the like success I then tried
Jallapand Calumel and altho I gave him at different
times two scruples of Jallap and six and eight grains
of Callamel none of the doses ever moved him more
than once I afterwards tried the blisters first on his
back and then his head butt all to no purpose I never
have given him any Opiate as I have always been
Inform'd that he sleeps tolerably, tho there are some
Nights that that is not the Case; His diet has been
since the beginning rather low owing to a mistaken
notion of his mother, contrary to my opinion, riding,
I hope as soon as the weather will permitt, may be of
Service; which shall be Carefully tried. A sharp Vomit
I mean to try to morrow is I imagine from the
operation of the Purgatives he will require a strong
dose the great Difficulty will be to prevail upon him
to take any Medecine for such a length of time as may
be requisite in his Case Shall be glad to follow as
farr as lies in my power any rules you shall lay
down which I Expect as soon as convenient in the mean¬
time I am

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To
Docter William Cullen Physician
in Edinburgh