[Page 1]
Thomas Christie Esqr

I recollect you sorry that all your pains & travel¬
ling have not succeeded better. I own I thought
your complaints purely nervous, without particular acri¬
mony of the blood but I [might?] ¹ be mistaken & I sus¬

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pect now your opinion may be well founded & I shall
go upon the same supposition in answering your
queries

As to 2 1st I must say there is always hazard in drying
up an issue, which has discharged long & freely, but this
difficulty may be got the better of in your case & I would
have you try the issue for one year only & if you dont
find relief from it you may let it dry up about Midsum¬
mer come a twelvemonth when the Perspiration increased by
the season renders the drying up of issues very safe. In case
of that benefit from it, you will not grudge to keep it open
for years, or for Life.

2 2d I have seen an arm shrunk, waisted, & weakened
by an Issue long continued but this does not always hap¬
pen in any considerable degree, & commonly not to any
degree of consequence to persons, not exercising violently
their arms. I do not remember of any properly para¬
lytic effect induced or of the whole body being sensibly
weakened by an issue.

2. 3d. I have never allowed an issue to prevent either
hot or cold bathing, & have allowed them ↑together↑ without any
bad consequence. The breast not so convenient as the arm
or the nape of the neck & [pains?] of your breast may be
removed better by repeated blistering than by an issue
your intention in blistering is with a view to the whole system
& therefore may be put where most convenient in the arm or
neck. The differences of a Seton or Issue is, as the
one or other best favours a discharge. It is frequently
more by a Seton but by a large pea issue to contain
several pease, is as good as a Seton for it, & the
Seton is much more troublesome.

If your arm be still full & fleshy & you wish to
dress it yourself, you might put the Issue into your

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left arm but if you can have a person always at
hand to dress it, you may put two Pea issues into
your neck one on each side of your spine, pretty much
in the places where we usually bring out the two ends
of a Seton. So for your 2d I wish I could say
anything else for your relief. I have not much confidence
but I shall attempt it by telling you that I have
learned the use of a medicine which has more effect in
clearing the blood of acrimony than anything I knew
before, & never gives any disturbance to the Nervous System
& so on your own supposition you might safely try it
Must not expect benefit from it till a months use
at least a bottle every day. Here follows
my opinions of the young womans case.

From your description I cannot be positive about
about the nature of the Tumour but I suspect it
Scrophulous, & may hereafter discharge matter, unless
it be that the Girl has not yet had any courses & that
on the coming out of these it may be entirely discussed.
I have known many instances where such a Tumour
at the time of life if has preceded by a consumption
As to the cure, If the Girl be free from cough, she
should drink sea water but if there is the least
suspicion sea water will not be safe & in that
case let her take ʒſs of æthiops Min. everynight
& morning which will require neither change of diet
or confinement.

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[Page 4]
For Mr Christie