1796

Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 20 June 1796

June 20 1796

Dear Sir

In answer to Mr Forman’s letter, I can only say that if he chooses to send one or two large furnaces with the simplified apparatuses, I can have no objection. I sh^d think they w^d go off. I have just received a long letter, containing the case of a Capt Helmsley, paralytic in mind & body from the yellow fever, who has been wonderfully restored by oxygene alone, after every other remedy had been used in vain. I shall print this case, as the first of part 4^th of Consid^ns I intend in this part to select: before I had collected. As soon as it <the case> is printed I will send it you. It seems the most palpable of all the cures, effected by ox: & the most compleat except Mr Atwood’s.

I have now a capital case of what I think paralytic asthma, which I have just begun to treat with oxygen. I call it paralytic, because the attack was diff^t from convulsive or humoural asthma, because a constant necessity for fresh air had existed long in the intervals, with other marks of deficient nervous influence on the organs of respiration, & because the most severe fit was instantly succeeded by palsy of the mouth & one arm. The patient feels or fancies herself better already on the 7^th day.

The effect of Capt Helmsley’s case was such as to induce the medical people to order an apparatus for the Newcastle (upon Tyne) hospital.

W^d it be right or not to add your supplement to part iv – I c^d wish it; & as we can get the plates cheap it need not add much to the price. I believe it w^d be well to add to the apparatus or at least to propose an air-trier. It may be a bladder tanned by nitrous air with a spigot & faucet, to put into the tube of the air-bladder – this may be used for blowing upon a candle, which w^d ascertain (to the satisfaction of the patient) though grossly whether there was much oxygene, <present> or it might do for lime-water & nitrous air for those who choose to be accurate; – Sometimes, the <ox:> air does not seem to combine with the blood Suppose we try pressure & heat separately or together. For heat, there may be a difference whether it be moist or dry heat – We know that water has much to do with fixing & unfixing airs. For moist heat, suppose a tin-trough filled to a certain depth with water of a higher temp. than the atmosphere, as 100^°–150^° – the faucet of the filled bag to fix into a tube of the upper side (for it is to be <soldered> close except two tubes) & the mouth-piece with the double valve into the other tube near the other end: then the air w^d file along the surface of the water & get moisture & heat –

As to the atmospheric air, in the upper part of the tube <trough> that may be allowed for –

I intend to try some such scheme for a Lady Dashwood, for whom I have been consulted by letter – case, I believe hydrothorax – if she & her family choose to follow my counsel

I am my Dear Sir Yours truly

Thomas Beddoes

Address: Mr Watt / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / June 20^th 1796 / Cap^t Helmsley
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/029/04