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At the request of Mr. Blair who
consulted you in August 1780- shall beg leave
to submit to your consideration a few particulars
respecting his complaint at present, and
from a Personal experience of your judgement
& generosity in the Profession, have not a doubt of
your readiness to point out any Remedy for his
relief you may think proper, from my descrip¬
tion of his Case -

You will probably remember Mr. Blair at the
time of his application to you, to be of a delicate
Habit, subject to frequent evacuations of Blood
by Stool, to a frequent pain in his Side, want
of Apetite & in general of a debilitated System
Your directions as to his Diet & Exercise he has
punctually observ'd when his disorder & the
Weather permitted- The Aperient Powders (with Oc. Cancr. & Nitre) & the other Remedies he has made
frequent use of but without the desir'd effect.
For some time past his Complaints seem
rather to have increas'd.- His Apetite &
Digestion both bad. After Eating tho his Victuals
of the lightest kind are often rejected by the Stomach
complains of a pain on the left side of the Cartilago
Ensiformis in the region of the Stomach where he
supposes the the Bleeding arises from. He has also
frequent pain in the Right side & from his own
description chiefly seated in the course of the
Colon from below upwards, to where it makes the
turn in Crossing under the Stomach. His Pulse low
but frequent especially towards Evening when his

Symptoms are also worse than in the forenoon, tho' his
Nights are often restless-
He is rather of a costive habit, but from a particular
delicacy & Irritability of System the most simple Apert.
Meds. have often a very different effect to what might be
expected. By my recommendation, he has in this Case
made use of the Ol. Ricini with great advantage
When the pain was violent I also order'd it in Emmollt.
Glysters which mostly gave ease to that pain in the
right side, probably arising from some Flatulency
which the effect of the Glyster might remove

His Breathing is free & easy therefore no
obstruction in the Lungs- from this & from a want
of the different functions in the course of the Alimentary
Canal not being fulfull'd- wou'd rather suspect
something wrong in the Billiary Secretion-
I have mention'd the application of a Blister to the
right side as a means of removing the pain & at the
same time acting as a Stimulus might remove
any obstructions in that part-- this with the
Farenaceous Meds. Rhubarb &c. I have mention'd
but shall wait the favor of your answer before
any of 'em are made use of- If you think the
Blister, Cupping, or Leeches applied to the part
will be of service hope you will mention it & with
directions at the same time for such Medicines
as you think most likely to answer the intention
Mr. Blair has for some time had a Seaton in his
left side but the discharge being trifling has let
it dry up & without any apparent detriment
His Diet is chiefly of the light & Nutritious kind
Spiritous & Malt Liquors he does not touch

Exercise of Horseback he finds rather too hard
but when the Weather is favo'rable walking
out, with caution to avoid the Morning or Eveng.
Dews seems of use- From a recolection of
Mr Blair's Cast & what I've here mention'd
doubt not but you will be able to think of something
for his advantage & shall with impatience
wait your opinion- An Answer address'd
to me (Surgeon) or Mr. Blair Wigton Cumbd.
will greatly oblige

Doctor Cullen
Post Pd. Edinburgh

Dr Borradaile
C. Mr Blair
Septr. 1781
V. XIII. p. 185.