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From what my Brother Mr Clerk /Mavisbank
acquainted me and what you was so good as to
say in your last directions relating to me – I
sit down to take the liberty to give you some
further accounts of my past & present bad state
of health which will be done very unconnect¬
edly and without order and which you will
be pleased to excuse as I shall put down every
thing as they may occur – the reason of my not
following your advice of going to Buxton this
season which at the same time I approved much
of was that I thought I would rest - from being
much shook in my journey thro' Italy & France
with the report of the bad accommodation of
the Plan and bad Climate – I wished for tranq¬
uility & ease - that I could not meet with any where
so well as at my own house – I must previously
tell you that in my long journey – I was not
able to sit up an hour in the day – but lay con¬
stantly having a bed in my Coach – from which
posture I fear I contracted the Nephritic pains
and other gravelly Symptoms which I have for
some time been troubled with added to my other
complaints – I have had no Physical Gentleman
attending me since my return to England but
Mr John Adair – a very old Freind who has known
and attended one in various Climates, & in various
disorders near these thirty Years – he approved
much of my going to Buxton &c. as directed
by you – he is now at Spa – I see nobody at
present

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With all my care and attention I do not gain
ground, rather the worse –– what sometimes
gives me hopes – I feel that I have more strength
of Body and Spirits – than any one could expect
I am able at times when somewhat free of
feverto sit on horseback an hour – and to
drive my Phaeton with great precaution
nothing hurts me so much as that I feel mor
more than from walking which I cannot do
without much difficulty in breathing – and
the least exertion - or much motion – almost
ready to be suffocated – my feelings of weakness
are in my stomach & Bowels – without acute
pain or nay pain indeed – but a sense of
fulness and great tension and heaviness in
these parts – I believe really great part flatu¬
lency - more weakness in my ancles than
knees – without any swelling – emaciated
beyond anything I can describe less in my
Legs than any other part of my body – almost
a total relaxation - and I fear a total indiges¬
tion approaching fast – I have none now but
with much difficulty and uneasiness the
constant & obstinate Costiveness – the sole cause
and grounds of all my evils – for which
I tryed the Oil & Tincture of Senna as prescribd
by you as it went thro' me very quick I fan¬
cied it did not carry with it fully enough
the hard fæces - in my bowels – an infusion of
Rhubarb in water is almost the only medecine
I use – two days ago I tryed a Tincture of Bark
with Rhubarb which I prepared myself - and
fancied it did not agree with me – I am sure

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I am to be cured – if we could fall on the method
and particular treatment - of Regimen I have
the greatest hopes from – if a proper one could
be found out for me – or if I could find it out
myself – I must have your kind and ingeni¬
ous advice - I may have any thing this world
can give – but I fear good health – I do not expect
a thorough Cure – I only seek for an alleviation
to my sufferings – which are attended with many
disagreeable feelings – anxieties - at times
almost to Frenzy – all from my Stomach &
Bowels – the Nephritic pains much better - but
the difficulty in the beginning of making
Water - and uneasiness – during the time still
continued – I scarcely eat – but I have oppression
immediately – nothing digests without aid from
Rhubarb – or something else – I begin to lose my
appetite which I generally had to my break¬
fast & dinner – I never sup – my breakfast
I cant yet off habit – Tea with sometimes dry
toast – butter I like more than any thing
but dare not indulge in it – honey I eat a good
deal of – I can have everything if I know what
was best – my dinner – a little Meat – fowls or fish
with French red & White wines, in general –
but very little of any – were I to be put upon a
Regimen by you I should keep to it – be what it
would - Whey I have often tryed – and have since
you advised – but does not agree – were I put
on a Course of any – Medicine – I could follow it
in my young days – I was all over a dry scaly
Scurvy – it has totally disappeared these 10 – or 12.
years – I had one severe fit of the Gout – at the
age of 18 years – but never since – but sometimes
feelings in my feet – after a March or other exercise

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when my stomach is very bad – eating or even drin¬
king tea - affects my breathing – I never sleep
above 3 hours – and that unsound – it is
astonishing how I exist – at the same a stranger
seeing me sitting or hearing me speak – often
would think nothing was the matter with
me – Clysters I used abroad – but thought they
did not agree – Warm bathing I apprehend is
not good at least I have not tryed it since at
Bath & in my own house two years ago –
I thought they relaxed too much at Bath
I perhaps did it improperly – it was in the
Evenings – some hours after dinner – but I am
ready to try them at bath or otherwise as you
shall direct – I am much in the open Air –
and I have Cloathing not too Warm at present
it consists - within these few days only from a
Cold I had catched – a flannel vest above my
shirt – with a silk vest interlined with fla¬
nnel – I wish much to drink Beer if it would
agree – I have it in perfection – Milk & Vegetables
I should be happy were they to agree – but I fear they
will not answer from repeated tryals I have made
when abroad – I was obliged to be carried up all
[s]tairs – from a suffocation that siezed me on
[[a]ny?] or the least motion ascending I am better
in that respect and less palpitations – is Acids
good – such as Oranges – gelly of Currants or any
of that tribe – white or brown bread – toasted or plain
best – fruit I dare not venture on – I dont know if you
are acquainted with my Age – I am in my 53rd. year
if the Season was not too far advanced I wished to have
paid my respects to you in Person at Edinburgh – it will
happen if I can be propped up – till next year –
do be so godd – as give me your directions – for the

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care of myself - next winter – and where it is
best for me to spend it – I am still very susceptible
of Cold – indeed having so little on my bones
makes me so – I beg to have your opinion
of my state in a particular manner – whether
good or bad – I am now not to be affected much
about my fate. I perhaps have lived long enough
I should be happy was it possible I could have the
pleasure of seeing you at my Place here – it is
a dry situation and every way adapted for ease
and tranquillity – much retired altho' only
20 miles from London – nothing but the fear
of the Climate prevents me from living as near
↑my↑ own native place – I really think the most of my
disorders proceed /after the Costiveness/ from
some great affection in the second digestion.
if Tea - or anything else I use – You disapprove
of I am ready to give them up – is it weakness -
that occasions the affection in my stomach &
breathing upon walking – with the tightness and
oppression – I beg pardon a thousand times for
this long detail - of so shattered Fabrick I hope you
will excuse it – and be pleased to answer it at your
Leisure – my Brother will repeat them on his
return to Edinburgh – I am with Esteem – very truly

Dr Willm Cullen Edinburgh

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Doctor William Cullen
Edinburgh––