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When I waited on you last
harvest to consult about my sister Menie,
She had been confined almost close to her
bed for Eighteen months, with a Pain in
her Back, which was then her only com¬
plaint –– You will Perhaps recollect
her case. You then Prescribed some Powders
for her, of which she took two Courses. After
the first course she thought herself rather
better, which is generally her case with any
new Medicine, after the second course
finding herself no better, she gave them
up, & took a little sea voyage which
had your approbation. It seamed to have
a good effect. She was able to sit up more
& even to go up & down stairs. We then
thought she had no further need of medicine
& that strengthening food, & gentle exercise,
was all that she required. As she could not
sit a horse, nor in a chaise, we got a cart
with a Mattress laid in it where she she lay;

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But this exercise as the Road was rough, was too
much for her, it threw her in to Hysteric fits
which she has never recovered & these have
greatly increased the Pain in her Back
But as her appetite was tolerably good, & her
stamoch in order, We still continued the solid
Diet, with a Glass or two of wine as often as she
would take it. To this we added some soups, which
at first seemed to agree with her but at last brough↑t↑
on a disorder in her stamoch which has continued
these two months Every thing she takes sowres
& raises a violent Pain so that she dares not now
taste the least spiritous thing. For the [souar¬
ness?] we have tryed Magnesia, chalk, lime¬
water, & at intervals of Ease, an infusion
of the Bark, all of which have Proved ineffec¬
tual, the sowreness rather increases, so that
sometimes she is obliged to take thirty teaspoon¬
fulls of chalk & magnesia in a day –– Besides
the Pain in her Back & stomach of late she
complains of a Pain in her Breast seemingly
in the Bone sometimes so violent she is unable
to speak This is often attended with sickness
& oppression & often brings in Hysteric fits

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some years ago she had the same Pain in her
Breast which Mr Parlane said was nervous
In the Hysteric fits We always used to give her
Laudanum But of late have greatly increasd
her doze & sometimes given her ninety drops
through a day it generally soon settles
the fit But then it brings on a flutter
makes her sick, & oppresses her till she throws
up. She has been so ill of late that we
have often applyed to the Laudanum; But
she has now taken a dislike to it, & will
not take it again but in extremity
The reason why we so long delayd writing
you, was that my Poor sister was quite
tyred of Medicine as she never felt any
good from it & tis Purely to oblige her friends
that she has consented to this consultation
My father offers best compliments to you. he
has been remarkably well for some time Past

Your answer & opinion of my sisters case
as soon as is convenient for you will be
esteemed a very great favor by your very

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Doctor Cullen
Edinburgh

✍
Miss Manie Robertson
March 24. 1781.
V. XII. p. 12.