Thomas Beddoes to T.G. Estcourt, 16 February 1807
16 Feb. 1807
My dear Sir
I have no idea that if you take the calomel pills 2 nights out of 3 till you have taken about 10 doses in all that the slightest harm can arise from your mode of life – The warmbathing I hope you will have recourse to, as soon as you <can> make it convenient – The smallest suspicion of the increase of pain from cold spunging shd insist you to desist till summer – I believe that after the calomel & some continuance of warm bathing, some balsamic medicine wd be of great use – & that was my reason for asking you to write me some acct of yourself – Perhaps in a fortnight or thereabouts it may be proper to begin such a medicine – And if you have then time & inclination to favour me with a short statement of the feelings about the chest, I cd send you a prescription –
Your brother’s symptoms were such that it wd have been rash to have trusted to their going off of themselves. But I trust with confidence that all mischief will be prevented.
On the two other subjects of your letter, I am afraid it will not be easy to give you satisfaction – In the hooping cough, the essential thing is to ease the constitution by applications adapted to the particular state at the moment – If there be any signs of inflammation, to bleed in some way – if feverish heats, to take them off immediately – In general I think frequent use of vomits not beneficial in proportion to the severity of the practice – & I dread the free use of such a narcotic as hemlock which I believe is much in fashion – especially as I know that the cough may be mitigated to any degree by gentler means – this a great object to prevent all bad consequences by change of air, & by medicines, if necessary – as soon as ever I am able I shall draw up a small tract on this subject, but do not think I can say anything to yr purpose at this distance & witht knowing the precise state of each little
MS: Gloucestershire Archives D1571/F227