1798

Thomas Beddoes to Davies Giddy, 1 June 1798

1 June 1798

Dear Giddy

I do not know whether you ever heard of Baynton’s method of treating sore legs – I prevailed on him to publish it two years ago, & I believe, where exactly followed, it has never failed to cure bad (ulcerated) legs where there was nothing specific in the nature of the sore –

It consists in binding straps of calico, as broad as a ribband for the cap, covered evenly with adhesive plaister, round the limb. They must be so put on that the edges of the wound may be pushed together. The leg, specially if inflamed, must be kept constantly wet with water, or spirit & water – I sh^d suppose this plan perfectly applicable to your mother’s case—she may go about under it (which the dressing will enable her to do) & the more the better –

The pain ceases or much abates from the bandages & the cold – you say that ‘suppuration took place & a violent inflammation seized the whole leg’ So I suppose if the sore were well, the inflammation w^d subside – the strips are drawn tight – How high above the sore they sh^d be put on I do not exactly know, but I imagine not very high – But you must contrive to keep the whole inflamed part wet – I do not suppose any internal medicine will be wanted – if Mrs Giddy is weakened I w^d give her bark after the inflammation subsides & a grain of opium at night –

W^d you think the people of Bristol, now they have lost their trade, are going to take up philosophy? The anatomical and chemical lectures have excited an appetite for other branches of science & they cry out for botanical lectures this summer – But they are also going to build in Berkeley Square a lecturing room with accommodations – some foolish plans for keeping up chemistry had been agitated & dropped. At the end of the chemical course I requested them to meet & proposed the above plan £600 was subscribed that evening – £150 since – We have not yet advertised. We suppose we can get £1100 or £1200 if we need it. It has been so little forced that we have only one non-resident subscriber viz. W. Reynolds. Shares £25 each.

If it lay at all in your way to get some some pieces of the country from about the consolidated mines <or elsewhere> that show the accidents of lodes I w^d be glad if you w^d lay out the fee you destraine from me upon this object – & add the 2 guineas I paid Donne for you – Poor Donne is dead & his daughter miserably distressed with her paralytic mother – The 2 sons are at sea – I do not know any book such as you want for Miss Dennis – yr^s

T.B.

If you can employ any captain or captains of mines to select specimens, you may give them half a year to do it in – & sh^d they send things not to my purpose, the expence will not be considerable –

Address: Davies Giddy Esq / Tredrea / Marazion / Cornwall
Endorsement: Doctor Beddoes / 1798 / June the 1^st
MS: Cornish Archives MS DG 42/37