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I sit down to give you a short account
of Sir Rob. Henderson, from the time of my last
writing. -- Sir R. drank the waters regularly for
about four weeks: they agreed, & excited no degree
of Fever. -- Towards the end of the third week,
a Gouty- Sciatic affection came on the right side;
extending down the thigh & leg, & accompanied with
swelling. - After five or six days, the pains quitted
this, & affected in a slighter degree, the left side.
They then returned to the right side, & brought on a
very considerable swelling of the leg & thigh: there
was likewise at the same time a troublesom lum¬
bago. - The swelling was more of the œdematous than
I liked; & Nature appeared to be quite unequal to
the task of resuming the extravasated fluid.- Tonic
& diuretic Medicines were administred, the Cortex, Steel,
Squills, Cream of Tartar, Water acidulated with the
Mineral Acid which is very pleasant & sometimes both

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strengthening & diuretic, (.) -- None of these however had
the adequate effect; the limb became more bulky &
more troublesome, & I was under the necessity of ap¬
plying a Blister to the inside of the legg, to unload
the Cellular Membrane.- A disagreeable step, where
Nature is far exhausted.- There was a copious dis¬
charge for five or six days, the pains were relieved,
& the swelling greatly diminished.-- The Blister,
as I expected, proved difficult to heal; but was effected
in about ten days.-- The limb is still swelled, tho' in
a much less degree; the left leg has hitherto kept
tolerably free; the next stage however will I appre¬
hend be a dropsical affection of the lower exremi¬
ties. --- A Gouty swelling degenerating into a
sluggish œdema, is too clear an indicaiton that the
powers of the system are unequal to any salutary
efforts.--- I shall be happy, to render every ser¬
vice in my power, to Sir Rob. or Lady Henderson in so
trying a situation:---

Have you seen any Cases of the Angina Pectoris?
Have you hit upon any means of alleviating ↑or effectually removing↑ this
very alarming complaint? --- A Surgeon of

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eminence in this place, whose Life is of great im¬
portance both to his Family & in the line of
his Profession, I have too much reason to fear,
labours under this disease. --- He consulted
me about six weeks ago; is quite ignorant of the
nature of his complaint, & I hope will con¬
tinue to be so. --- About 18 months ago, he
began to be troubled with palpitations, & at times
with a very sudden & violent affection of the Breast,
rushing up towards the throat. - The sensation is
such as to threaten the immediate extinction
of Life; but it is quickly over. - I never saw
him during the attack; but at other times the
pulse is regular, he can lye down with ease & sleeps
without difficulty on either side.-- Walking rather
briskly, especially where there is an ascent, & agitation
of mind, peculiarly dispose to the attacks. -
The trot of a Horse brings on a disagreeable sensation
in the Breast: & in walking, the shoulders are
always kept a little raised, to prevent the pressure
of the arms on the sides of the thorax; for without

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this, there is a peculiar sensation & disposition to the
complaint. -- There is a sense of pain down the left
arm, which he calls a rheumatic affection.-- He
is tall, rather thin, temperate, active, & of a very
irritable habit. --- If your experience or inquiries,
respecting this very obscure Disease, have suggested
any practical directions, I shall be much obliged
by being made acquainted with them, & happy
in finding them instrumental in preseving
a valuable Life. ---

✍
Dr Dobson.
Concerning Sir R. Henderson
July. 1781.
XIII. p.177