1798

Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 10 February 1798

10 Feb –

Dear Giddy

Lady Knightley, Miss Baines’ aunt, is very much distressed at the idea of being obliged to communicate to Capt. Baines the acc^t of his daughter’s situation –

I was obliged to be absent a few days, since I last wrote to you & the change for the worse is to me very visible – The hectic fever now runs as high as it almost ever does, & Miss B. in consequence loses strength rapidly –

I did try factitious air, but whether it was an accidental coincidence or not, the cough for those 2 or 3 days was much aggravated; & I had no right nor indeed wish to press the continuance –

What I am now trying as a last resource is to imitate the exhalation of a cow-house – I am quite persuaded from experience of the power of those fumes to give a healing stimulus to ulcerated lungs in some cases – What it is in that medley of elastic matter which does service I am not able to distinguish – I much suspect it to be the portion of volatile alkali – applied in moderate quantity for a long time together – I dare say it is not the animal’s breath – I have often remarked the cough allayed by a smoaky apartment, & I have little doubt but if exp^s were multiplied, variety of application, useful in various pulmy. cases w^d be found – & the dose ascertained exactly enough for practice – meanwhile our exp^s appear clumsy & are troublesome & when proposed are generally rejected.

What we c^d wish you to signify to Capt. Baines is that no thing will be neglected – but that we can build no hope on anything we can attempt – This is only a repetition of what I said in my first letter – I do not wonder however that he flattered himself with vain expectations as he happened to be here during that long & very ext^e mitigation of Miss B’s symptoms – I am Dear Giddy yours

T.B.

Address: Davies Giddy Esq / Tredrea / Marazion / Cornwall
Endorsement: Doctor Beddoes / 1798 / Feb^y the 11th
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 42/15