1799

Thomas Beddoes and Anna Beddoes to James Watt, 17 December 1799

Dear Sir

Your obliging information will be attended to – Mr Davy’s absence & my occupations have prevented further exp^s on the production & use of the gas –

Several patients are coming – Capt Barclay has just consulted me, I doubt whether we shall be able to push the gas with him – He seems to have had epileptic fits – Since his arrival on Sat^y he has had threatenings of a new attack of palsy – I have done nothing but continue the volatile medicines he thought relieved his lownesses at Bath –

I think we ought to try the gas – I am almost certain he will (& in no long time) fall a victim to his disease unless its progress can be stopped, & his nerves restored –

The gas produces the most extraordinary exhilarating effects, much more considerable than at first, on the wretched old woman we last took in – She is much better – We are now getting some breathing boxes made & shall soon try them –

Mrs B desires her best comp^ts to Mrs Watt – I trust Mrs Finch will fully recover – T. Wedgwood is going into a heated room, not with cows, perhaps with oxygene –

I am D^r Sir
Yours very truly

Thomas Beddoes

17 Dec. 1799

[postscript in the hand of Anna Beddoes:]
If it is not very troublesome to you I should be much obliged to you if would tell me the best method of taking off the impressions of any kind of medallion in hopes I remember hearing you say that you had done some with thick paper made very wet but in what way I do not recollect – with comp^ts to Mrs Watt I am d^r S^r A M Beddoes

Address: Mr Watt / Heathfield / Birmingham
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Dec^r 17^th 1799
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/041/07