[Page 1]

on my Arrival here last Thursday. I found
the Captain in much the same Situation I had described to
you with this only Difference. that the Reaching or Vomiting
Fitts, had turned more frequent since I last saw him, generally
once, sometimes twice a Day. and that he complained of
of a giddyness. and Confusion and likeways Pain in his
Head. The Blister was according to your Directions applyed
on Friday. it rose very well, and the Issue was put on the
Crown of the Head. and Center of the Blyster. on the
Saturday. The Discharge on each dressing since, has been
very Copious. and the Captain thinks the Confusion
and Giddyness in his Head greatly removed. He has
complained but little since my Arrival, of the Pain in his
Bowels. But has had frequent sick Fitts, and Reachings
accompanyed with a viscid tough Phlegm. in very large
Quantitys. It would seem by the very large Quantitys

---

[Page 2]

he throws up as if, the whole nourishment he takes, and
which consists only of Drink. turned into this vile Phlegm.
Mrs Gilchrist informs me, that ever since, the Captain had
the Paralytick Stroke. he daily spit, or coughed up, great
Quantitys of the above Stuff, and ever since I knew him
he has had a very surpryzing Discharge that Way.
I take it, that the great Cause of the Oppression of his
Stomach. is his Inability to Cough or spit up. and the
Phlegm going downwards instead of being discharged
as formerly. I asked the Captain where he thought
the Defluction came from, on purpose to know, if his
Lungs were any ways affected. he says from the Roof
of the Mouth as it were, on the Back part of the Throat.
It must therefor be only from the Throat and the Salival
Glands. ----- I am in great hopes, that the Issue, will
prove a usefull drain to these Humours. If at the
same time any thing could be given to prevent the
generating of this Phlegm. or at least to attentuate it
a readyer Cure might be hoped for. I shall be glad

---

[Page 3]

to know, whether. Gum Amoniack, or Guaicum, would
be of any Service. I remember very well that my Brother
Charles found the greatest Benefit from Gum Amoniack
about fifteen years ago. for an Ulcer or Impastiomi
in the Lungs. it greatly attentuated the matter. and assist¬
ed Expectoration. and to the use of it. and Lime Water.
I entirely attribute his Cure. My Brothers only Food
or Drink, was Butter Milk. And of which the
Captain is particularly fond being the only thing he
can now be prevailed upon to take. ---- I have
made some Experiments upon the Phlegm, that the
Captain throws up. I find nothing dissolves it, but Lime
Water. by the means of it. It is perfectly dissolved, &
rendered miscible with common water. and [evene?]
the Gum ↑amoniac or Guaiacum↑ dissolved in the Lime Water. I doubt not, but that
still more happy Effects might be obtained, I am per¬
haps talking great nonsense, but I hope you will
Excuse me for dabbling in your Province, my Anxiety
for the worthy Captain is such, that I can not refrain

---

[Page 4]

from stating every thing that I imagine can be of the
least Service to him. The Captain has had, twice
Magnesia since I arrived here. I now doubt, of his
having any Acidity in his Stomach. because the Magnesia
did not prove purgative. and great Part of it came up in
his Reaching Fitts, enveloped, with the Slimy Stuff, I already
mentioned, which would not have been the Case, had there been
any Acidity in the Stomach. because the Magnesia on
being taken, would have imediately incorporated with
the acid, and have produced the ↑Sal↑ Catharticum amarum. (and
would not have come up, as it did, in the same state it
was taken. with the only difference of its being covered ↑or mixed↑ with the
Slyme.) In general the Captain, is pretty easy in
the Belly. ↑he↑ had no passage, however, for three Days untill
yesterday. but it was procured by a Clyster. he has given
over his Asses Milk, as of late, he has had an aversion to
most things. The Ass was rather long Colted, and
Mrs Gilchrist. proposes sending Tomorrow for an Ass
that is fresh Colted, thinking that the Milk may be better.

The Captain is very thin. but what is surpryzing with all
his Complication of Complaints. his colour. is clear, and
good. I would therefor fain hope, something yet might be
done. I shall be glad to ↑know↑ how far you approve of Ripe
Fruits such as Strawberrys for the Captain in Case

---

[Page 5]

his Stomach gave him to it. and of there would be any
impropriety in his Eating them, at the same time that, he
tastes. the Lime Water, (in Case you think the Lime
Water proper.) however all that I can say can not be equall
to your seeing the Captain yourself. and Mrs Gilchrist
wishes much that it were convenient for you to take
a Step out this Length.

---

[Page 6]

Doctor Cullen
Mint Close
Edinburgh

Lord Cochrane
Captain Gilchrist
June 1777
V vii p. 54 -