1794

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 27 September 1794

Dear Sir

Capper For <the last> 2 days he has inspired a good deal of fixed air by heat mixed with 4/5 or 5/6 of atmospheric air – he did breathe some pure fixed air, as he had much pure hydrogen but he imagined it irritated his lungs. It did not however produce coughing or any distinct disagreeable effect <even> in that state. During the use of the diluted f.a. the pulse has become less frequent – the expectⁿ considerably less. the cough is little troublesome – the feverish feelings seem more completely subdued by f.a. than by hydrogen. More comfortable he certainly is. I sh^d think him better, if his strength increased. But if the above alterations continue a week I must ascribe some virtue to the application. I have little doubt of its power to subdue the hectic symptoms & prevent night sweats. That effect is permanent. I had written so far on Friday night – This morning (Saturday) I called found that he had yesterday eaten above a pint of high seasoned turtle, soon after which much heat & feverishness had come on. His face & nose became quite scarlet; & in the night he coughed hard. To this I c^d only say that if a man will eat fire, he must expect to be hot – I am much vexed at this act of imprudence, as it has thrown us into a state of entire uncertainty, respecting the effect of the treatment for some days at least. We none of us suspect fixed air of this last mischief. There seems no ground for y^e suspicion.

I thank you for your care to inform me of your last exp^s with the Ex^r manganese. I shall say nothing respecting the production of oxygene with [alchemical sign for sulphuric acid] & manganese that the public shall not find justified by experience. – I repeat that if you have any more additions, they will find a place; the last sheet is not full & it shall not be printed off till after the plates are worked off. I shall advertise the pamphlet in the London papers next week as to be published about the 10^th or 15^th of October. Please to have the plates directed to ‘Prosser Printer Broad Street Bristol’. I hope we shall have them next week; & if in the course of that week you or Gregory c^d make a comparative exp^t or two with the Exeter & Mendip manganese so as to give a gross result, it w^d be well to annex it. I believe now that this will form the best method of procuring oxygene; till one entirely new be discovered – You say in your last letter but one (Sep^r 24^th) that you take the oxyocarbonate to be a more compleat union of steam & charcoal than ‘hydro-carbonate’ – but what is the oxyo-carbonate? Or how is it made?

As to the size of the silk bag, I do not know if that be very important. Capper’s hold 2 cubic feet nearly; that is, each consists of 2 y^ds of ell wide silk: they do very well. I own I prefer your hydraulic bellows as a reservoir in most cases – Capper has an additional one

yrs

Tho^s Beddoes

Address: James Watt Esq. / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Sep^r 27^th 1794
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/28/18

Note