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The following circumstances, will probably
bring me to your remembrance. I waited upon you at Edr.
in Decr. 1772 and consulted you in regard to a Nervous Complt.
I had long laboured under - and at that time you only prescribed
for me some powders, of Magnesia & Ginger &c, by which I
imagine, you thought that all the Nervous Symptoms took
their rise, from an acid humour in the Stomach - altho' I
have reason to think this is not the Case at all. In March
1773 I wrote you a large Accot. of the nature & symptoms
of my Indisposition &c, and desir'd your Opinion particul¬
arly, in regard to a change of Climate, & whether Bermuda
wd. not be a very proper one. In April, I recd. your an¬
swer - and in consequence sail'd from Montrose to London
in May - from thence in June to New York, where I arrived
in Augst. – From that place, in Novr. to Bermuda - from
Bermuda, in the later end of March ↑74↑ to Charles Town South
Carolina, and from thence in June, return'd back to
London in July. During the pasage to New York, and
till the till the middle of Octr., my appetite & digestion, were much
better, & more regular than formerly, & my spirits more
brisk and active, owing no doubt, to the constant easie mo¬
tion & exercise which sailing gives to the Stomach & Bowels
and to the constant, and free perspiration, from the Heat
of the Climate. But about the middle of Octr., a sudden
and remarkable change of Weather happen'd, from extreme
Hot to extreme Cold – and from that moment, my Health
declin'd every day – flatulency, want of appetite, and
all the other Nervous Symptoms, return'd with terrible
violence - which convinced me, of what I often thought

This to me, is another proof, that the
Symptoms of my Disorder, depend principally on a
certain humour in the blood, intimatly mixed with
its composition, wh. when accumulated, and its acrimony
encreas'd by an obstructed persiration, with occasion
affections of the Nerves and fibres in different parts
according as it may {illeg} or settle most, in the course
of Circulation. To lay before you all the reasons wh.
induce me to this Opinion, would be endless – I am
not able to write them, & you would be fatigued in
reading them. Suffice it to say, that I am convinced
this is the Case, and that the ground work of my
opinion is laid in this - that I am certain, when
I was Young, I had a very large & extra portion of
acrimonious matter in my blood, which used to make
its appearance in a violent manner every Spring
on my limbs, thighs arms &c. in the form of large
fiery inflamatory pimples. In short my Opinion
of the Cause, of all the disorder wt. wh. my Nerves are
affected is this - A Constitutional Scorbutick hum¬
our in my blood, intimately mixed with its compos¬
ition - join'd with some degree of Rheumatism.
Now there is no Exercise (for I never was dificient in
that) nor Medicine, that can always keep the per¬
spiration full & free, at least it is impossible in
this Climate, and therefore I humbly propose to
you, whither a perpetual Issue or Setin,

1st. If the opening an Issue or Setin, would be attended with
any bad consequences, on supposition of afterwards discontinuing
it.

2nd. If the continuance of an Issue or Setin, would weaken
the Constitution, – have a paralytic affect on the parts
principally affected - or on the Nervous System in general.

3d. If it will {illeg} for the Cold and Hot Bath, as both these
at times may be necessary, and moderately. ~

4th. The proper place to put it in – whether in the left breast
where the strenth of the complaint is - or in what other place

5th. If there is any difference betwixt an Issue & Setin - and
if there is, what is best ~

In general any other [Lent?], that may be of Service. ~

It is now ten years, since I first form'd the Opinion, I have
above laid before you, relative to the cause of my Indisposition
and I shall only further observe, that all my observations
since that time, have more and more confirm'd me in it.
I have also a very considerable Authority, in my favour, from
one of your own Profession Viz. the late Dr. I. Daltrie
of York. In the year 1771 I went to Harrowgate, but be¬
fore drinking the Waters I consulted him – and when at last
I took my leave of him to go home – he gave me the follow¬
ing prescription Viz. ––––

A certain quantity of Scarborough Salts, Flower of Sulphur
& Sarsaperillic Root - boil'd in Scarborough Water, to a certain
[qu]antity, wt the addition of some Nutmegg for {illeg} - of
{illeg}in Decoction, to take Six table Spoonfuls, at bed time

I hope you will make an allowance
for any inaccuracy of expression, or a Crudity of Opinion
that may appear in my letter - as I have wrote just
as it came to hand, without premeditation – and
the Subject I have principally touched on, is of a
very obstruse nature. I beg your answer, as soon
as possible, as I am impatient to know your Opin¬
ion, and make the tryal, if what I have propos'd
is approved of. You have only to give your Opi¬
nion simply, without reasoning, or entering in to the
grounds of it, as I know your time will not permit
this, and besides I shall have a pretty good guess of the
Ideas you go upon, when I see the manner in wh. you
give your Opinion. Direct your answer for me, and
Care of Messrs. Alexr. Anderson & Davidson Lothbury
London. I have ordered my Brother in Montrose
to send you somewhat by way of compensation, for
the trouble that answering this letter may occasion
you. I am with Respect,

To
Dr William Cullen
Professor of Medicine
in the University of
Edinburgh

✍
Mr Thos Christie's
case. 21st May
1776.