[Page 1]

it is now a year and a
half since I had occasion to write to
you concerning Mr. Nielson; the most
of which Time he has past with much
ease for the night Pains which used
to awaken him and the Sweatings &
uneasy Throbbings in his breast &
irregularity of Pulse had in a great
measure left him - to his regimen
and fresh Cool air, he was indebted
for this; for the former used to agree
perfectly with him; and he never
breathed warm air or sat in a room
tainted with the Breaths of others
without finding himself the worse
for it -- but of late things have
changed much to the worse and I am

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[Page 2]

afraid are hastening fast to a Period
- it is about two two months since
he removed from the Largs to Bishop¬
ton - he had been there but very short
when he found himself incommoded with
a difficulty of Breathing which awakened
him in the night time and he found
could only be removed by sitting up¬
right; but often returned upon lying
down and thus kept him for some nights
restless and gave much uneasiness -
in the 16th of last month I saw him and
finding his Pulse more quick and hard than
its usual took a tea Cupful of blood from
him - this procured relief and rest for 2
or 3 nights; but the Breathlessness returned
again and has become much worse.
I saw him yesterday again and learned that
he had not in one night got more than two
hours sleep for the 3 nights immediately pre¬
ceeding - that any sleep he got was in the

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beginning of the night from which he awakened
in vast distress, panting and Breathless and
this he found could only be relieved by sitting
up which did not always answer the end
but even during when he was perfectly
erect and during the day time often attached ↑him↑
going off then in a little and at intervals
returning - he likewise informed me
that it was with difficulty he could swallow
not owing to any Pain but wind from the
Stomach meeting the Bolus and pre¬
venting it's progress - that his Stomach
was often distended with wind which en¬
creased the Breathlessness - that the Breath¬
lessness was instantly and greatly
eased when got wind at any time ↑in any moment↑ passed
but more especially by belching - his
Water Urine too he said had been in less
quantity and when it stood became
turbid - he had likewise observed his
legs Stiff and ankles Swelled for two days
by-past - that he had been for some days

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Costive and felt a considerable pain a little
within the Anus --- upon examination
I found his Pulse beating 100 and hard and
strong and I likewise noticed a small hard (↑dry↑)
Cough returning now and then and the Com¬
plaint in the Anus I found to be a slight
appearance of the Piles - on applying my
hand to his heart I felt irregular Confused
motion which one would scarce have
expected to produce so distinct and regular
a throb in the Artery -- he went to bed
at 11 last night and slept till near two this
morning when I found him in the greatest
distress, Panting and greatly Paind in the
back - his pulse was strong and as he had
formerly been relieved by it I could not help
repeating the blooding and took about half
a ↑tea↑Cupful; and what was remarkable both
in this and the last blooding altho' the blood
sprung impetuously from the orifice at the first
it presently became languid and ran slowly
down the arm at the same time that the fillet

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was sufficiently tight and the Pulse beating
as brisk and strong as ever and this ↑too↑ I aave
observed in some of his former bloodings -
the blooding at once relieved the pain
of his back but had no effect in pro¬
curing Sleep or relieving the breath¬
lessness -- from the symptoms I
much fear that besides the original Com¬
plaint Water is now accumulating in
the Thorax; and I have therefore given
him an infusion of the Wild Carrot seed
but not any more powerful diuretic
till I hear from you - the Wind in
his Stomach from it's pressure I believe
discomposes the action of the heart and
in this way greatly adds to his uneasiness
Complaints; I have therefore ventured
to send him the Vitriolic Aether a tea
spoonful to be taken twice a-day in a
little water if he finds it answers in dis¬

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pelling the wind - I have forbidden the
Use of magnesia and in it's place have
ordered (↑prescribed↑) Sulphur - I have likewise dis¬
charged Laudan the use of Laudanum

Bishopton is a house belonging
to Lord Semple - you will probably re¬
member it's Situation immediately be¬
low Corse-hill and nearly opposite Dum¬
barton - it is built upon a rock con¬
siderably above the level of Clyde which
there has a Considerable tide - Mrs.
Nielson wishes to know whether you
think such a situation hurtful -
Mr. Nielson blames the weather which
occasions the house some time to be
a little Smoacky; but I believe it is
the Progress of his Disease -

About 3 years ago Mrs. Nielson from
a very slight Cold became deaf in one of
her ears and within this quarter of a year

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has from a similar Cause become deaf -
She is at present in perfect health and has
nor had no Pain in either of them - I see
the Tympanum of each distinctly; it is
no ways inflamed nor is there too much
wax on the Contrary rather little; but she
here a Constant noise in both ears
like a fall of water - she begs to know
what you recommend for this - it is
a Circumstance which adds to
both their distress; for as he dare not
Speak loud she cannot hear him nor
do for him what her affection would
lead her to-

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[Page 8]

Mr Taylor
Concerning Mr Neilson
January 1782
V XIII p. 252