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A long dissagreeable detail
I have to give you of the great distress
will convince you how averse I have been
to give you trouble which I am afraid has
been a loss to me -- As far back as 1760
I had a violent Nephritic Fit, when after
Bleeding Blisters (Glysters) &c, I was relieved by passing
a long sharp Stone from the left Kidney
I remained pretty free of Complaints of that
kind until the be{illeg} (g)inning of 1773 which
had some violent Nephritic complaints
from that side, which prevented my using
exercise even in a Chaise without pain.
At last a large smooth dark coloured Stone

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forced ({illeg}) bulk & shape of a large Almond forced
itself into the Bladder & at last into the Urethra
but could not on account of its size be
extracted, by the flatness of it & with the assis¬
tance of a Bougie, I got my urine {illeg} (passed)
for some days, untill my Son cut it
out of the Urethra, I had a very good reco¬
very & used the frequent caution of intro¬
ducing Bougies to prevent any contraction
or adhesion in the parts - In 1774 I remained
pretty easy, only upon exercise passed Blood
& complained of a sensation of weight in
that region - In 1775 & 1776 I continued after mo¬
tion, & passing small concretions by my Urine
sometimes Blood & evidently Pus - I was always
relieved by passing either --- I could not
retain my Urine long & passed it with

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a considerable degree of Dysury.

My manner of living was during that
time as much adapted as I could to my
miserable situation - My Food & drink
of the Demulcent kind, {illeg} (the) only medicine
Adams's solvent which I had been advised
to from London -- I remained thus [till?]
the beginning of January last, when I
was seized with an Ischuria Renalis &
did not pass a drop of Urine for Eight
or Nine days - In that time I was delereous
& had many alarming Symptoms -
At last I begun to pass Urine & one night
passed a considerable quantity of blood
with it, which gave me unspeakable
relief. This confined me to the House &
much to my bed for about 11 Weeks

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at last I recovered my Appetite Strength
& former looks. I should have told you
that even after my recovery, my Urine
came off involuntarily, & which obliged me
to have a small Urinal suspended in
my Breeches - I was {illeg} (↑about↑) the end of March
so well as to be able to go about my busi¬
ness with little difficulty & with but too
little caution --- I was then seized with
Strangury & Dysury occasioned by passing
very uncommon thick stuff by Urine
which I do not know how to describe
My urine when first passed is milky
but soon deposits a thick white substance
tougher than the toughest snot you ever
saw come from the Nose or Breast &
would drain out into Strings of any

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length When put into water it has much
the appearance of the Whites of Eggs, im¬
miscible with water (it) - There is more or
less Dysury in proportion to the quantity
of this stuff, which will exceed Two ounces
in 24 hours, This complaint has not been
of above 4 weeks standing, but has re¬
duced my strength & taken away my
Appetite - My great pain is in the
Neck of the Bladder & in [Particular?] when I
sit on a hard seat. I have drunk for
these two years past much Seltzer Water
& impatiently wait for your advice
which I have delayed asking for till
now, on account of your hurried business
& attendance on your Class.

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I am with the justest sense of the
many obligations received from you,

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Dr William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh

✍
Case of
Doctor Saunders
May. 4th 1777
Vol. VII p 25.