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In the course of summer 1779 Mr. Muir who is a
Wine Merchant, was attack'd with disagreeable and un¬
usual feelings, particularly when he went into the
wine cellar videlicet a listlessness and inability to perform
his usual work, and even in the open air was soon
tired with walking. - . He could not command his attention
for any length of time, and by degrees found himself unable
to attend his business . - He was carried a few miles into the
country, where appearances still grew worse . - . His want
of ability to move became greater. - . He seem'd to be more un¬
happy, and frequently fell into fits of crying, and wish'd
to dwell on the history of his own complaints only . - . Some of
his senses became extremely acute, insomuch that a pin
could not fall on the floor without alarming him . - . Till
the beginning of Spring 1780, he continued in nearly the
same situation, and during the above period, used the
Bark, exercise according to his abilities, and aloetic

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laxatives when necessary . - . his pulse generally from 70 to
80 . - . About this time his inability to move became still
greater, it took up a considerable portion of time to get
one leg past the other, every action was performed with
extreme slowness, and he sometimes sat for hours toge¬
ther without the smallest degree of motion, except of
the eyes which were moved slowly from side to side,
seemingly without attention . - . He could not speak
except in a low and slow whisper, so that one was obliged
to place their ear near to his mouth to hear the an¬
swer to any question; yet still the answer was perti¬
nent when you could hear it . - . His pulse at this
time was from 52 to 60 . - . Dr. Stevenson of Glasgow
advised a Seton to be put in his neck, and he has
told me since, that after it was put in, he found
himself better, that his mind was mind was more serene, and
the gloom that hung over him, in some measure
dispelled . - . About six weeks after the seton was put
in, as we could not perceive any alteration upon
the state of his complaints, we began the use of the
Electricity . - . At first by the shock, as he could not

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stand on the glass footed stool . - . In the course of two
or three weeks he could stand on the stool, and had
sparks drawn from different parts . - . A little time
afterwards he began to walk with more agility, and
spoke in a small peeping voice . - . During the summer
he used the cold bath at the sea shore, and at the end
of the season returned strong, active and in good
health . - . From Autumn 1780, when Mr. Muir recovered
from this unhappy state, till Autumn last 1783, he in
general enjoyed a pretty good state of health, carried on
his business and mix'd in the amusements of other young
men . - . At this time he again began to complain of his
former disagreeable feeling upon going into the wine
cellar . videlicet a lassitude and a relaxation of his whole frame,
a torpor, as if his blood did not not circulate, a giddiness of
his head and inability to perform any work . - . He was
again advised to use the Bark, to ride on horseback, to be
much in the open air, and as seldom as possible in the
Cellar . - . He grew gradually worse . - . The cord in his neck
which had been allowed to dry up when he was well, was

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again opened, with the addition of a perpetual issue at
some little distance below the cord . - . He used aromatics
and stimulants of different kinds, particularly mustard.
At first he used the mustard seed, but it was pass'd whole
as when taken, after which he used made mustard in
some quantity. - . When the cold of winter began to set
in, his feet and hands were generally cold, and the blood
fled from them as if he had been dead or chill'd with
cold, in spite of flannel next the skin, warm clothing
and frequent rubbing . - . He complained frequently of
coldness in his stomach, flatulency, giddiness in his
head, &c. . - . In short there is hardly an hysterical symp¬
tom which he has not experienced . - . Electricity
was again tried during a considerable part of the
winter and spring, but without advantage . - . His
inability to move and to speak became nearly as great
as in Winter 1780, and in this way he struggled on till the
end of April last, when he was carried a little way into the
country, where he seem'd to grow a little better, insomuch as
to be able to walk near half a mile at some times. . - . In the

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course of the summer, he went over to the Island of Arran,
but I do not learn that he recovered considerably, but con¬
tinued weak and spiritless, tho' sometimes he walk'd and
rode a little . - . Towards the end of summer or beginning of
Autumn, he imprudently began the cold bath, and seem'd
worse after every trial, so that with some difficulty he was
brought home about three weeks ago . - . At present, his in¬
ability to move is very great, and when sit in a chair, he
seems generally stupid and inanimate . - . Sometimes indeed,
after considerable preparation, by hawking and cleaning his
throat, you can get him to answer a question, but what he
says is in a low peeping voice, hardly to be heard, and in a slow
solemn manner, as if every word was studied before being pro¬
nounced . - . What he says however is correct and pertinent . ---
At other times, you cannot get him to answer a question, tho'
ask'd once and again; which seems to be more from want of
ability than inclination . - . He does not complain of any thing
but the giddiness of his head . - . He has not the coldness of his
extremities formerly complain'd of . - . His appetite is bad, and
he is sometimes under the necessity of using the Aloetic pill, to
prevent costiveness . - . Since he came home, the cord and
issue have been again opened, as they had been allowed

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to dry up in Arran . - . The issue was opened by applying a
pretty large blister between the shoulders . - . He has likewise
used some of the mustard . - . In the course of this tedious
disease, the diet has been frequently varied, often according
to Mr. Muirs inclinations . - . Sometimes the appetite was
so bad that we were glad to see him eat any thing, at other
times he eat a large quantity, particularly of salt herring
or ham, and without perceiving himself the worse at
it . - . He has at times used wine, but did not think it agreed
with him, and therefore changed his cordial to some pretty
strong toddy, which I understand he uses generally after
meals . ---- Mr. Muir is a young man, not exceeding 25 or
26 years of age . - has lived pretty freely, both before the first
attack of this disease, and in the three years interval of pretty
good health which he enjoyed . - . He is not in any considerable
degree emaciated, but continues fresh coloured and rather
of ruddy complexion . - . His pulse generally from 72 to 80 . ----

Since writing the above, I understand that Mr. Muir
sometimes complains of the colddness of his extremities, tho'
the blood has not been seent to leave them as formerly. ---
that his feet are cold to the touch, and his ancles are fuller

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than usual. - . He in general sleeps pretty well, tho' one
or two nights since he came home, he has complained of
being restless and started frequently during these restless
nights.

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✍
Case
Mr. Muir
November 1784
V. XVI p.216