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Will You my Worthy Sir permitt Me to notice a few circumstances
in addition to the confused case I gave You to Day; & to request Your
hinting a few instructions for my future Conduct?

I have been in use to soak my Legs in Warm Water for a few minutes
daily, these two Years past, chiefly to get the dressings more Easily remov'd
& to mitigate pain ---

There has been no very great attention, till lately, paid to the posture
of the Limbs

I never made a practice of using purgatives, or considerable Evacuations
except Aloe & Soap now & then, to procure one or two Motions, being very
liable to costiveness ----

In the last twenty Months have used great quantities of Bark,
without Visible service; --- as also the Sarsaparilla inneffectually

Bark poultices with fine Oil, did great & immediate service to the sores, when they
were foul, slonghy, & painful after fresh attacks of inflammation on them

Only usd the Carrott poultice for a Month in America, & being obliged to
keep in the House with it receiv'd great benefit at the Time

The sores ↑were↑ often by different means just on the point of healing, but
would again suddenly break out, with pain, & inflammation; &
this without any known immediate Cause except being
in fuller & better Health ------

Please turn

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Washing & dressing the sores with Solution of Corrosive Sublimate; produced
the quickest Effects towards healing, when usd for a month in
London - last December - but about Eight grains of Calomel were taken
as an alterative in that time, - & I walkd a good deal
about, & liv'd as other people

When my Skin is husky & dry, the Legs are more painful &
inflam'd; - They are returnd when its gently moist -

The last 18 months I am subject to uncommon Watchings for two
or three hours in the Night & dare not touch tea or Coffee in
an Evening on this Account ---

Greasy Dressings render the Skin & parts difficult to cleanse;
the discharge is in general of fine (↑{illeg}↑) as prevents fine Lint being
removd, without difficulty & pain; - hence I have used the common
Plantane, & other soft Simple leaves, both for Ease, coolness, & Cleaness.

I can bring myself to any sort of food or Diet; - I have a
predilection for the Animal kind once a Day, especially Fish ↑Eggs↑ &
Sweet Milk ↑or butter↑ (with Every precaution) never agreed well with Me, I am
fond of Whey, & have drank it very freely of late, & I think
with success. - I can take Butter Milk once a Day easily
I have scarce tasted salted, relishing, or Smoaked Diet for many
months; & do not use a bottle of Wine, -- Punch, -- or Beer,
in two Weeks. --- nor have the least inclination for them --
I have been using six drachms of Tincture of Guaiacum daily these 5 weeks ------

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I am anxious to get exercise in this fine Weather, ---
I Should think One hour daily on Leith sands, in a light open
chaise, with my Legs Elevated, could not hurt Me ---

I am however proof against all the temptations of Company,
or travelling about, till I am better. ----

Could you be so obliging as favour Me with an Opinion
when You think (with the strictest attention) I may probably
be near Well?

Would any of Our Mineral Waters be of Service by & by?
& Which?

The [Edges?] of the ulcrs have never been callous; - They have often been painful,
tumified, & very irritable. -- None of the open Sores the Doctor saw, are of two
Months standing; - All the former ones are heald up. - After getting
clean from their first slonghy appearance, they soon (with rest & attention) show
a Disposition to heal, but keep long in that State before they actually close.

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✍

Mr. Alexr. Thomson
March 1785
V.XVI P.331