Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wedgwood, 17 March 1795
17 March 1795
Dear Sir
The communications which are now in the press include some cases of consumption, & these are very encouraging, for they show that elastic fluids have great power in this disease. I do not, however, yet feel confident as to the certainty of a cure in the majority of cases. However a cure has been performed in a patient belonging to the dispensary at Birmingham; the case was undoubtedly pulmonary consumption & the patient was approaching to the last stage. This was a kind of public exhibition of the powers of this practice & obtained it so much credit that a ward in the Birmingham hospital is to be appropriated this spring to pneumatic medicine. Other cases, belonging to this dispensary, have so far evinced the virtues of hydrocarbonate air that no one doubts of the cause of the effect abovementioned. How far the cure may be permanent is yet to be ascertained, for you know these observations must have a degree of crudeness & immaturity which time only can remove. The hydrocarbonate was given with 16-20 times its bulk of atmc air & about a quart twice or thrice a day. The moment I have a proof of this report, I will direct it to you. I have myself seen the most agreeable effects from this air. E.g the pains that dart from the sternum to the scapula immediately & permanently removed – & its power of inducing sleep, so that opium may be entirely laid aside, wd alone render it a great branch of medicine, the palliative.
You will feel fully assured from the cases I have to publish that in other bad complaints the pneumatic plan will answer on repetition. And it seems clear that the principles deduced from researches concerning respiration are too narrow to account for the phaenomena, of which I am very glad because the gr[MS torn] the variety of powers, the more ample will be the resources from airs.
I was thinking whether the [MS torn] Etruria might not be instrumental in turning the public attention to this subject; whether, for instance, a design cd be contrived for such a legend as ‘Pneumatic medicine introduced (into G. Britain) & successfully practiced) in 1794 & 1795. The words in brackets may or may not be introduced, as you shall see them justified by facts. I will have an etching of your design & write a little book to be neatly printed & circulated among the great. It is necessary to captivate the fancy of people [MS torn]capable of serious thought –
My pamphlet will be extrmemely rich in facts about charcoal – Your obsn I consider as valuable for a reason that may not have occurred to you though I hope you will admit it –
I am Dr Sir –
Yours truly
T. Beddoes
Address: Thomas Wedgwood Esqr / Etruria / Staffordshire
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / 1795
MS: WE/WM/1/1/1/WM35.13