1806

Thomas Beddoes to an Unknown Correspondent, 10 January 1806

Dear Sir

The sight of Mrs Grenville the sick sister of your friend Mr Hornsby, who impressed me with very particular respect, reminded me you – And I think it possible that you may give me assistance in money towards an Instⁿ for preventing consumption –

I doubt not but from the effect of your sufferings on your feelings that you would favour such a scheme if you could be satisfied of its feasibility. I do not know whether I mentioned to you a preventive medical Instⁿ which I had set on foot for the purpose of reducing this idea to practice. About 12000 chronic invalids have passed under my inspection, & I am satisfied that the plan is equally practicable & simple – that is to say, had I seen you in early life, I could have predicted the future tenderness of your lungs & prevented it, if your friends would have listened to my admonitions. If 150,000 people annually perish in the united islands from consumption, it w^d be very easy to reduce the number infinitely, & except in the case of particular occupations, violent injuries & want, in time perhaps the disorder w^d be little known. It is impossible to explain my ideas in a letter. I have drawn up a small book for the poor, in which I have endeavoured to put my conceptions into familiar language The whole may be comprehended in two propositions, founded on experience 1. Consumption generally befalls persons of a habit & conformation, easily distinguished. 2. The habit & conformation can be changed for the better –

I have devoted more than my spare time & all my influence & means to the ascertainment of this latter proposition. Various medical men have been convinced of its justness, & throughout the kingdom are a certain number of individuals who have had proof of it in their own families. My ways of proceeding where I am allowed to exercise my judgement is to examine growing children & correct any vice on the constitution

What I sh^d propose would be to extend the Institution to London, & industriously use all means of making the results known to poor & rich.

Were I opulent myself, or could I impress an opulent person or persons with my feelings, I would devote a sum of money to be applied to the above purposes in 6 or 8 years. At present, the idea is too simple to be generally received, & most people withhold medical means from their children, when they would be effectual, & overload them with drugs, when drugs are of no sort of use. But the example of the Instⁿ & well attested reports of the proceedings would familiarize the public mind with the salutary notion of preventing complaints, even though somewhat remote – And if I am right, a few thousand pounds would distribute the greatest of blessings throughout the country –

If you feel an inclination to consider this subject, I w^d send you the little book for poor people & transmit what occurs to me as to the mode of proceeding

Should you judge the project visionary, do not give yourself the troubling of answering the above –

I am
Dear Sir
With all good wishes
Yours respectfully

Thomas Beddoes
10 Jan. 1806

I do not know whether you have ceased to listen to rumours of new remedies. I think it not unlikely that ursi or galls may diminish the excessive irritability of your system & mitigate the pulmonary symptoms, if such as I have seen there

MS: Richard Smith Papers, Biographical Memoirs, vol. 9, Bristol Archives 35893/36/i