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In March 1776 there was discovered on the back of his
Right leg a little above the Ancle a red tumour which was
thought little off at first; but by gradual increasing and swelling
the Complaint or Inflammation reached half way up his leg.
Afterwards removed to the outside of his leg ↑and became somewhat alarming↑. A surgeon was called
for, who attended him for several months. -- Paultices were applied
to bring it to a head -- But the part affected continuing hard, and
the matter so deeply Rooted that the surgeon thought it expedient
to apply a Caustic and kept it open by means of a Tent for some
time -- Soon after the inside of the same leg was affected in the
same way, immediately above the Ancle when applying a Paultice
as above thought it necessary to make an incision to extract the
matter -- In Each of which wounds he kept a Tent for some
weeks -- After which healing ointment was applied & dressed wt.
Linnen Bandages -- The Bark Powder, & Norton's Drops were
prescribed Alternately -- also Mercurial Peels tho seldom. ---
During the Summer months was bathed in Salt-water which
seemed to have a very good effect -- In this way he was treated
till about the beginning of August when the Surgeon left the
Country. --- The Medicines gave a favourable turn, tho' not to¬
tally removed the Complaint. --

Soon after the Complaint in the leg commenced there
was a swelling discovered in his righ arm immediately above the
Elbow which also increased downwards but confined itself chiefly to
the arm-pit above the joint. -- This was treated much in the same
way with the Leg except an Incision being made instead of the Caustic
And by means of the Salt Bath particularly, the swelling was
greatly abated tho not totally removed as it took a seat in the
arm during the winter. ----

With respect to the Leg by frequently washing it wt.
milk and water & Saltwater alternately & applying Bandage
as above during the Course of winter 76-77. The Complaint was
totally removed and in appearance as whole as the other a little
Itchiness excepted which is guarded against by Rubing the part
affected with grease & applying bandages. ------

About Feby. 77. The Tumour in his arm began to increase
again in the place formerly affected & is come to a great
height, but is always more swelled at Night than in the
Morning -- has not the least appearance of breaking tho
it juts out much in the form of a Boil -- And has disabled
him to that degree that he could not for weeks past once
move his Arm, from the Elbow to the hand, any way, &
pains him at times prodigiously --- It is kept in a
scarf or sling all day to prevent motion, & is always washed
Morning and Evening with saltwater & a flannel kept
around it; yet notwithstanding these Precautions the
swelling seems to be moving towards his Shacklebone &
fingers when it creates him excruciating pain. ---

In the beginning of March 77 a Tumour
appeared on the left side, of the Broad of his left foot, and is
making advances in the same way as the other Leg formerly de¬
scribed. --- The young man in now about 10 years old -- rather
of a delicate constitution -- but excepting these Complaints
enjoys good health and Spirits --- has his Appetite in
Reasonable way & never was confined to his Room during
the above Period except for a few weeks when the Right
Leg was at the worst. --

As to his Diet it was as much of the Vegetable kind as possible
and very little Animal food except Fowl and Chicken --

Summer 76 the Surgeon prescribed Goat milk and
whey for him which seemingly proved of no desired effect. --
The Surgeon who first attended him, believed the complaint
was of the Scorbutick sort. But Mr. Liddle surgeon
who has seen him lately, calls it of the Schropula
kind -------

Harpsdale's Son
April. 17th. 1777.
Vol. VII. p. 18.th.