Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, [June 1802]
Dear Sir
Much occupation has delayed my answer to your last letter – which described Mr Boulton as taking the iron & upon the whole a little better –
You enquire after the muriate of lime – I find it answer almost invariably in the several varieties of scrophulous affection. It has lately cured a discard spine with paralysis of the lower extry & a white swelling of the knee.
In one case of ulcerated bones, it has not answered I made a great expt with oxygen air – which did nothing – I now am trying muriate or nitrate of strontian – The gout medicine has answered perfectly. In the case of W. Reynold’s – a most desperate case – one bottle removed a severe fit – Dr Bradley has given a note for insertion in my next Essay which wd hurt him if this be not the specific I have found it so far – He is a cautious man – & has used it longer & oftener than I have –
I gave it lately to Mr Allgood, a Northumbrian squire quite palsy shaken – It drove the gout from his stomach, fixed it in his wrist, removed the pain & procured him a longer interval from gout in the stomach than he has had for two years –
This is the second case I have had with palsy. In both it fixed the gout in the exts –
I remitted Mrs Finch a guinea less than I owed her – Perhaps you will do me the favour of forwarding this to her – I inclose a Stafford bill not payable in London, which was sent me – supposing you can dispose of it. If not, I will repay you when I see you –
You & Mrs Watt inquire after my wife & child. The former is drooping without any symptom – The latter laughs all day – she began to suffer from her teeth – I lanced her gums repeatedly not for letting the tooth through, but to moderate the action of the part – I think this will always remove the miseries of dentition – I have known eyes bled above 100 times with the lancet in six months – with good effect – I do not anticipate future evil from gum-lancing – & the present benefit is clear. I am with compts to Mrs Watt yrs truly
Thomas Beddoes
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes – / June 1802
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/044/06