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It is almost
unnecessary to inform you, I Dare say, of the
bad Effects that this wet & backward Season
has evidently produced in such a weak & worn
out frame as Mrs. Hamiltons; since my
last, she has gradually become worse &
is now so emaciated & wore out, that I dont
think any person in the last stage of a Con¬
sumption can possibly be more so, there is
now a necessity of helping her out & into bed
& she complains of oppression & failure of
strength on the least Motion, also her Face
has got more of a thin ghastly appearance.
Her Spirits are still good, talks easily & at
times with as loud a voice & heal like ↑a↑ Sound as

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as ever; the Cough is greatly better within
these 5 Days, but during that Time, & some
few Days before, she has been attacked
with a Looseness particularly in the night
Time, which was restrained by giving her
four Grains of the Pill pacific: for two
nights running on going to bed, but then
last night she was attacked with a profuse
Sweat which exhausted her more than either
the Looseness or the Cough had Done before.-
About 22 Days after the last show of the Menses
which I informed you off (as being so Scarse), She
was attacked with some of the usual Symptoms
of it the Chief of which is, an aggravation of all
her usual Complaints; this Continued for 4 Days
but went off without the least Show of any kind;
ever Since; which is now more than a fortnight
her pulse Seems to be becomming more & more

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quick, & has ↑been always↑ most perceptably so before a great
fall of Rain or the approach of worse weather than is
going on at the Time, this quickness of pulse is generally
abated in some Degree, by a Severe fit of Coughing
with a consequent Spitting of a tastless thick phlegm,
an attack of Looseness, or a profuse Sweat; Her
pulse since ↑the beggining [of?]↑ that Time has varyed between 90, &
102; Before one fall of Rain, lately, She Complained
of her ↑old↑ Rheumatick pains thro every Joint, & it was fol¬
lowed by a severe feverish attack. –– She always
was very averse to the use of opiats till of late, since
when She has been rather more thirsty & given to waver
in her mind. –– Garden Stuffs of all kinds have
been recommended but she complaints that thay rather stand
to open her too much. –– She continues the use of
Cow's milk.–– & enclines to take a little Sweet wine
in her Drink or spoon meat in order to prevent her
feelling her own weakness. –– Has used the common
almond Emulsion with a very little oil & Syrupe of
poppies in it for some Time with some benefit to
the cough at night. –– I would be very happy to hear
from you soon if you Judge any thing farther proper to be
tryed in such a Desperate case & I remain, with due Esteam

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To
Doctor Cullen
Mint Closs
Edinburgh ✍
Mrs Hamilton
of
May 1780
XI. p.