Thomas Beddoes to James Watt, 11 January 1803
11 Jan 1803
Dear Sir
I was very agreeably surprized by the sight of your hand writing upon the cover of a letter. I am glad to find by the inside that Gregory is so far recovered. As the idea of any affection of the chest seems removed, you will, of course, feel less anxious; & at the same time you will no doubt take care that nothing shall fix there during his remaining weakness.
Should you perceive any evg feverishness on his return & any propensity to an over quick circulation, I should think he might take a few drops of saturated tinct. of digitalis twice a day & also twice a day a few drops of red sulfate of iron. The plan answers, I know, in phthisical & other & other species of weakness, when there is some tendency to heat at the same time.
The greatest novelty I know in medicine is not quite new to you. It is this gout medicine I have been perpetually & am now using it. I will not enter into particulars, because the acct of the cases will be out next week, & wd have been ere this but for Xmas I shd be glad to know what impression the perusal of the cases makes on you. As in the most important instances names & all particulars are given, I suppose we shall get credit. Indeed I scarce meet with a patient who is sceptical. But what is medical testimony? Here we have the full run of the chronic cases of this country – we had three thousand last year – we have their names, symptoms recorded – our success in cases of scrophula is beyond any thing ever seen before, though not absolutely unfailing; & yet my correspondents say they cannot cure scrophula as we do, yet every case is seen by two medl men as well as by me –
Our success in siphylis with acids is absolutely unfailing – Not one case in which they have not answered; & we know of many where there has been no relapse & <as> yet we do not know of any relapse – & you are acquainted with what other people say.
I have challenged our surgeons to inspect our patients – Some have refused – saying mercury only can cure the disease.
Our little girl is very thriving & happy. Possibly she will have a brother or sister in ye course of the year – & my wife is better at present.
She desires to join me in kind remembrances to you & Mrs Watt –
I am Dear Sir
Yours very truly
Thomas Beddoes.
P.S.
In speaking of disasters which might be imputed to the gout medicine unjustly, I have mentioned Eggington’s case without his name, but lest people shd suppose I was fabricating an example for my purpose, I have said ‘During Mr Watt’s absence, I have taken the liberty of appealing to his knowledge of the fact’. I will cancel & reprint this passage if you choose.
T.B.
Address: Mr Watt / Heathfield / Birmingham // Bristol January eleven 1803 / Free Saunderson
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Jany 21st 1803 // Gregory – scrophula / Gout &c
MS: LoB MS 3219/4/044/08