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You will possibly recolect that some time
in January. 67. I consulted you about Capt. Fraser for an
Impostume in his Liver, which had broke before I had oc¬
casion to attend him, he got the better of that, and in about
three years after was at Edinburgh, when you will probably
remember to have seen him at your own house, he was al¬
wise a full man, of a Florid Complexion, and now aged
about 56. In February 72 he had a stated fever attended with
swellings in lower & uper extremities, which with the fever
Continued about a fortnight, but as I did not attend him at
that time, cannot make any particular account of his
case. Barring that fever, he has upon the whole enjoy¬
ed a pretty tolerable state of health since his recovery in
67.; tho indeed he has had frequent Complaints in his right
side and stomach, being often subject to pains and swell¬
ings in the former, which came and went occasionaly, but
seldom Continued above a few days at a time. For a Course of
years he has been in the Custom of not stirring out during
the winter Season, and a great part of the Spring, but since
some time last August he has never been in the open Air,
and for most part of that time kept his bed; tho seemingly
not in bad health, as he eat, drank & slept., prety much in
his usual manner, he had indeed several little Complaints,
which I believe were rather more imaginary than real,

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tho as to that, I cannot be so particular, being little about
him till eighteen days ago, that he found himself not well
and Continued drooping for a Couple of days, when he was seiz'd
with a smart keen fever, and for two days more rov'd & spoke
incoherently, but after blooding he grew pretty sensible, the blood
was florid with very little Serum, the fever still Continues
sometimes pritty keen, frequently remits, but never intirely gon,
he sleeps a good deal, but seldom above half an hour, or an hour
at a time, & very little refresh'd, he has had several strong pro¬
fuse sweats, which seldom Continued above three or four hours,
partly owing to his being restless, and not lying under the Cloaths,
he has been all along kept open in his Belly with mana &
Cream Tartar, and sometimes has had very severe brashes of
purging without any visible cause, and yet not weakn'd after
them, his pulse has been all along prety soft and equal, 'tho
frequently full, but much less so for a week back, some days
ago we observed a riseing in the open of his side, extending from
the Groin towards the haunchbone, spreading along the Kidney
to the Vertebre of the back, but not higher up then the small
ribs, without pain even when press'd, and seems rather in¬
creasing, he has likewise a weakness in all that thigh and
Leg, and a contraction in the Knee, so that he cannot extend it,
nor move his Leg & thigh. His tongue is foul, and drinks a
good deal, but Complains of no pain in his head. His Urine
is deep and turbid, and has been so all along without any sepa¬
ration. These are the outlines of his present Complaints, nor
have I time at present to be more particular, but as his much

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alarmed about his side, Leg, Knee, & thigh, I earnestly beg you will let me
hear from you in Course, but as the Post is going, I most Conclude on haste,

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To
Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh

✍
Mr Duncanson
about Captn Fraser
Vol I[I?]. p.165.