Thomas Beddoes to Francis Fortescue Turville, 2 January 1800
Dear Sir
I am concerned to find by your letter to Mr Yeo that Mrs Turville’s health is altered for the worse –
As to Dr Fowler’s letter any bookseller will get you the W. C. Contributions (printed for Longman) in which you will find it – I have saved a much greater proportion of lives in the course of last year than in all my life
The digitalis has often enabled to do this; but it has also often failed me – And therefore I have of late taken to an auxiliary plan according to which the patients are made to inhale certain fumes, & to remain in a fixed temperature. This has always alleviated suffering & sometimes preserved life – I have tried in about 10 cases & am now every day improving it –
I am afraid it wd be quite impracticable to give you such directions as wd enable you to do it justice – & unless Mrs T has some strength left, I wd not advise bringing her hither I am sorry you did not give me a line some months ago – With my experience & attention to every thing thrown out in all Europe I can not fail to get new lights from time to time.
I am Dr Sir
With all good wishes
Thomas Beddoes
Perhaps you may find it worth while to refer to the 2nd Ed. of my Essay on consumption –
Address: F. F. Turville / Bosworth Hall / Welford / Northamptonshire
Postmark: BRISTOL / JAN 1 1800
MS: Leicestershire Record Office DG 39/1474