1807

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 sh^d insist you to desist till summer – I believe that after the calomel & some continuance of warm bathing, some balsamic medicine w^d be of great use – & that was my reason for asking you to write me some acc^t 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 c^d send you a prescription –

Your brother’s symptoms were such that it w^d 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 y^r purpose at this distance & with^t knowing the precise state of each little patient –

As to education, I agree with you perfectly that one must be careful not to be misled by hypothesis – I have tried a deviation from the common plan only in 2 instances – & I believe the boys turned out perfectly well grounded – They are at Eton – Mr Ralph Lambton can give you an acc^t of them. They were his two eldest nephews – You are aware of the importance that a knowledge of the useful arts is now gaining – It is well to have fashion at all on our side – And I doubt if it w^d be accounted much of a singularity, if to the age of 12 or 13, boys were put to a master, who c^d teach them science & arts as well as classics – after that age, a large school w^d be less dangerous inasmuch as their minds w^d be already occupied – which w^d be a great guard agt. temptation – To find a master may be some but will not prove an insuperable difficulty – And I think there sh^d be from 12 to 20 boys – in order to obviate the shyness & other inconveniences resulting from absolutely private or domestic tuition –

The subject, you see, is copious & many explanations might be necessary – & indeed it c^d not well be discussed by letter –

I am Dear Sir
with great respect
y^r very ob^t sert

Thomas Beddoes

Please to let your servant put the enclosed into some 2^d p^t office

P.S. Is it quite certain that the hooping cough is got among y^r little people? – I know only that the present epidemic has symptoms sometimes like the hg. Cough – Indeed y^r brother hoops a little – I w^d not swear he has not got it – but I by no means think so –

MS: Gloucestershire Archives D1571/F227