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A Gentleman aged 67, of a strong make & full habit,
who had generally Enjoyed good health; About five years
ago had some apearances, that showed his Blood was __
viciated, & that he was falling into a bad habit; At that
time he had a large Boil upon the side of his face, that
was long coming to a proper supuration, and the hardness
continued long after it had supurated; He was then advised
to drink the Water of a spring that resembles that at Moffat,
which he thought was of service to him, but from the time he
had that Boil, his health has never been, so firm as formerly.
Last Winter he was seizd with a violent Cough, which continued
several weeks, he got rid of it, by the use of Squill Pills,
and towards the end of Spring, he began to drink the Water
above mention'd, which he discontinued after a fortnights
using it; When the hot weather came in May, he used to
get up in the Morning after sweating much in the Night,
& Bath himself in a River that runs near his House. A
little more than three weeks ago he went from home, & was
absent five or six Days, upon an affair that occasioned
a great Agitation of his Spirits; He returned with a violent
Cough, & the beginning of four large Boils on his Back, two
upon the upper parts of his shoulders, one on the right side

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over the false ribs & one about two inches below the point
of the Scapula, the edge of which goes very near the Spine,
they were broad at the root, hard & of a deep red. By
supurating Cattaplasms the broke & Discharg'd thin Pus, but
as the Apertures were small, it was necessary to lay them
open, they discharg'd a large quantity of Matter, especially
the One last Mention'd, two have apeared since under the
Axylla & some other smaller ones. He has for a considerable
time back complain'd of a coldness in his feet, & a frequent
desire to make Urine, but without any pain. Since his last
illness seiz'd him, he has had a local loss of Apetite, & want
of rest in the Night at the beginning from the Cough & pain
of the Boils, but now chiefly from the frequent calls for
urine, which of not Answered imediatly comes away unvolun¬
tarly; and a Violent pain in both his Haunches & the outside
of his Thighs which has in a great misure deprived him of
the use of his Limbs, so that even when he is supported, he can
scarce walk from the Chair to his Bed. Whlist the Boils were
supurating, his Pulse was surprisingly good & free of fever,
tho he complain'd of exquisite pain. Now a Hectick fever
comes on every Afternoon which must Waste him considerably.
During the continuance of his Cough, he took no Medicines but

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the Julap Amoniae, & the Pilul Piceæ of the Pharm. Pauper. ¹
since he got rid of the Cough he takes the Bark two Drahms
a day, his sores yield a Laudable Pus, but his total want of
Apetite & Sleep, the pain he suffers now chiefly from his Haunch¬
es & Thighs must waste him so fast that there is reason to
aprehend (if his illness does not take a more favourable turn)
that your Advice, which he is very Anxious to have may come
too late.