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I have been plaugued with those Gouty
Complaints ever since I wrote you, now two days without
some Symptums of it, ar sometimes more than others,
but it seems to be consistently flying about all parts
of me, at one time ↑pain↑ in my Toes, at another in my
foot or ancle & heel, and knee's, attended generally
with more or less inflamation, the Top of one of
my knee's has been several times so, but the
Swelling most about my Toes and heels, some¬
times more in one than the other, at times I
feel as if Wind or Cold Water was pouring down
my thighs and legs, some nights a good [deal?] of
{illeg}, others none.- Some days find myself quiet
bright and well, others perfectly heavy and hardly
able to move- Sometimes, the uneasyness in my
Stomach much better than others, but upon the

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whole I think much oftener [carry on?] since I have
attack'd with these Gouty Complaints- The pains
have neither been severe or constant, but generally
towards the evening worst- I keep mostly in the
house, as I find I am obliged to keep my feet and
legs very warm, otherwise the cold prevents the
inflamation but makes me feel much worse-
Otherwise indeed it is needless for me to pretend
to describe to you the number of disagreeable lit¬
tle feelings I have from time to time- I can hardly
get any thing to make me perspire without
heating. I was advised to take a little Gum Gi¬
iacum in something warm may I do so.- When
I find my Stomach much out of order I have
always found a little unbruised white Mustard
seed or a little Rhei [been?] of service, (not in
the Quantity to purge) can these do any harm
to my present Complaints:- I have been

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much ↑better↑ of my Bilious disorder lately, seldom any
bad taste in my Mouth in the morning now, that
I formerly had, my little troubled with the weary¬
ness in my Side & Shoulder- I have given you a
long confused account of my self, I am affraid
you'l hardly understand it, but my Complaints
are such and so various that I was at a loss
how to unite them.----

I wish to convince the East
India Court of directions, that I cannot [risk?]
any safety to my life even return to India as
I am, if you think so. I would be much obliged
to you if you will send me your Cirtificate
to this intent which I will forwar them--
excuse this trouble.-

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To
Doctor W. Cullen
Cowgate
Edinburgh

✍

Lt. Col. Muirhead
January 1790
N. XX. p.312