1794

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 5 November 1794

Dear Sir

The credit of pneumatic medicine is daily rising. I have lately had accounts, too well-attested as to the facts themselves to be doubted, of the effects of oxygen gas in paralytic affections of the auditory & optic nerves which surprize me. Two patients under Mr Wathen’s inspection, though Dr Thornton administered the air, were so much relieved of gutta serena, that they may said to be cured: & Mr Wathen’s partner sent a patient, nearly blind, to me last Sunday, desiring me on the credit of these cases to oxygenate him, which I shall do. A boy, so deaf for 15 months that he c^d not hear the tower guns, though close to them has nearly recovered his sight hearing by oxygenation

I am obliged to Dr Black for his letter & you for communicating it. I will, with all my heart, cancel the leaf you disapprove – I think such, despicable adversaries; & so I have represented them in words, though you will say not in words. Dr Black’s sheets went before any plates were struck off. Afterwards we had hardly paper enough for plates for copies demanded the moment of publication. I shall desire L^d Selkirk to enclose him a set immediately. I wish I knew whether Dr Hutton had a copy. But now I c^d not get franks.

I suppose the apparatus for me will come to day. The order on the next leaf is hypothetical, because I do not <know> which is the best apparatus for the purpose. The apparatus will afterwards go to Ireland. The patient has had hydrothorax, he has been supplied by digitalis, but will soon relapse, unless oxygen gives his absorbents new irritability.

I am D^r Sir
Yours faithfully

Thomas Beddoes

Mess^rs Boulton & Watt

Gentⁿ

Please to send to Mr Gladwell No 8 Parade Bristol Hotwells as soon as you can an air-apparatus. As Mr Gladwell wants oxygen only & that in good quantity, I beg you to send that apparatus which you shall judge best for the purpose. You will be so good as to place the apparatus to my acc^t, Mr Gladwell having deposited a sum in my hands more than sufficient for paying the charge: which I shall remit the moment Mr Gladwell gets the bill of parcels.

I am Gentⁿ
Your obed^t Ser^t

Tho^s Beddoes

Nov^r 5 1794
Clifton

Address: Mr Watt / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Nov^r 5^th 1794 / Blind & deaf cured
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/27/07