1800


Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wedgwood, [early 1800]

Dear Wedgwood

Your letter inclosing a drt for twenty pounds (a much larger sum than I cd suppose myself intitled to from you, if I were entitled to any thing) came safe to my hands last night – I did not expect you would feel stout enough to cope with metaphysics; & I am so much the more rejoiced that you do –

Joss’s intelligence of the effect of the cold bath upon you makes me feel for the precariousness of medical opinion – and therefore I mention with great diffidence that you might try the unguentum nitricatum perhaps with advantage & it is when properly dosed, an operative medicine – I have had opportunities of trying & becoming much informed about phosphorous – The sole danger I apprehend is from inflammation of the stomach – & this never takes place from 15 to 20 drops of a saturated solution in good aether – If a little pain is felt cold water soon relieves –

I have lost my ague & almost recovered my flesh – The acid answers amazingly in India in siphylis, hepatitis, dysentery & sea-scurvy I have got Johnson to print a collection of reports from India – In this country they cure venereal complaints not less effectually – But cabal has stopped their <general> use, except only that it is quite common to conjoin nitrous acid & mercury with acknowledged saving to the constitution – In a preface to the above collection I propose a way to bring the question to a solemn decision – I will send you the publication in perhaps 9 days – & if you or Joss will drop me a line of encouragement, I will send you good phosphorized aether which I have taken myself – I am yours with sincere good wishes

Thomas Beddoes

My wife is pretty well & begs to be remembered to all her friends at Gunville.

P.S. I find the artificial-climate plan answered well last winter, all the cured patients living so far – & out of 8 were 2 besides Mrs Fynch full as bad as she was

Address: To Thomas Wedgwood / Gunville / Blandford
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes
MS: WE/WM/1/1/1/WM35.21


The full versions of these letters with textual apparatus will be published by Cambridge University Press.