1799

Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wedgwood, 9 November 1799

Dear Wedgwood

The benefit derived to you from the animal diet is similar to what I have seen in like cases & to what I hoped you would derive from it, when I proposed it some time back – I sh^d think the gluton very feasible if you need variety – But I should think it of more importance to keep up the appetite by the composition which has done Mrs W. so much apparent – indeed real – good – I will make sure & send it next week –

If you could by throwing in oxygene by the lungs contrive to get some good blood made you w^d be cured of your chilliness etc. – as the blood vessels properly filled would evolve heat enough – & this seems in speculation more feasible than your sulphur-plan – oxygen heated or mixed with gazeous oxyd – & taken perhaps much diluted might serve this purpose – a wool sack full <of much diluted gas> might affect your irritive motions – though the quantities hitherto employed have promised so little – Certainly good blood & good muscular flesh cannot be made with^t oxygen added to a certain base in the tepid bath at first salted – [MS torn] a pound to a gallon – & from 96 [MS torn] 98 or the temperature mor[MS torn] agreeble at the moment & [MS torn] through the day w^d I [MS torn] the combinations – [MS torn] suffers so much I w^d propose to inhale the gas during bathing –

I am y^rs truly

T. B.

9 Nov.

Endorsement: T Beddoes
MS: WE/WM/1/1/1/WM35.20