1794

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 28 August 1794

Dear Sir

I have received your corrections & shall take care to insert them in their proper places. I am not experienced in the price of engraving, but the price you mention strikes me as very reasonable. I was charged 2 guineas for a poor engraving, only half the size, which is prefixed to my acc^t of Mayow’s experiments – I cannot gather from what you say whether you have received the manganese. It was to come from my friend W. Reynolds; I mentioned it in two letters – I am curious to know the new facts you have observed & shall be thankful for all you will tell me. A very accurate & distinct physician has just informed me than in two phthisis cases hydrogen (I suppose not from charcoal) has had ‘a very sudden & very favourable effect – He says ‘I am astonished at the length of time men can [xxxx] breathe & animals live in, hydrogen – some of my patients have <sometimes> respired pure hydrogen air for a minute & half at a time, the more frequently they repeated the process, it became less & less fatiguing, but I always observed after 15 or 20 suspirations the face grew pale & livid.’

I shall try hydrogen zinc if Capper comes & it sh^d be worth while to try any thing. I have been extremely engaged of late & have not pushed forward the pamphlet so fast as I c^d wish – I have two or three exp^s on animals to make, which I can do currente [xxxx] prelo – tomorrow morning I am going to see a rich clothier at Painswick in Gloucestershire – He is, I fear, far gone in consumption. If any chance remains, I shall direct him to procure an apparatus – & hope he will be able to have it soon –

I am
D^r Sir
Your grateful humble ser^t

Thomas Beddoes

Clifton
28 Aug^t

Address: To / Mr Watt / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Aug^t 28^th / 1794
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/28/12