I was kept long in the country just about the time that your family
were preparing to go North. I came home indeed before they went away
but I was so hurried by the business accumulated in my absence that I could not
send this letter by them & was less anxious about it as Mr Balfour had said the
needfull. However I think it my duty to give you a little of my opinion. The
humour they are affected with seems to be in their bodies in considerable quantity
& therefore will require time to be got the better of. But I am still of opinion that
time will do it for the management of their sores Mr. Balfour has sent the
necessary medicines Mr. Balfour has sent the necessary medicines & given the
necessary directions & for internal medicines he has likeways very properly
advised the use of the Tussilago decoction; & for this sent the Receipt along with them
He has likewise properly advised a dose of the Polychrest Salt to be taken once
a week & it will be enough for the remaining part of thys this year &
Winter but towards the spring if there appears any return of the humour
it may be proper to give the Polychrest 3 times in a fortnight or
perhaps twice a week. I say this specially with regard to Mr Samuel; but
with regard to Mr. Malcolm I must say that if he has any return of
cough or pain of his breast or spitting of Blood no kind of salts or
saline medicines will be proper for him & he must keep to the
Tussilago Decoction alone. As Mr Balfour has advised Mr Samuel may
just now try to drink Sea water to the quantity that will keep his
Belly regular without purging and if his neck continues to mend
he may try the Bathing in the Sea every other day. If he takes
to the salt water & that it seems to agree with him he may about
the end of February or beginning of March next begin to drink the salt water
and if he does he need not take the Polychrest Salt above once a
week. Their diet may be the same as hitherto avoiding Fish &
all salted or seasoned meats; but if Mr Malcolm is during the winter &
especially towards the spring has any cough & is otherways threatened with
breast complaints I would have him in that case abstain altogether from
animal food. While any part of this harvest remains tolerably mild & dry it
would be proper to set Mr Malcolm on Horseback as often as you conveniently can
& as soon in the spring as any tolerable weather sets in I would advise the same measure
This is all I can find necessary at present but if any thing new occurrs
with respect to your sons in the Course of Winter I shall be ready & very
desireous to give the advice I can.