1807

Thomas Beddoes to Josiah Wedgwood, 1 October 1807

Dear Wedgwood

1 Oct 1807

I am very sorry for your disappointment – I sh^d have thought little of it, if the first indications had not been so flattering – In a child of my own I sh^d think of 7 weeks too short a time to give up<in>, if there were no positive discouragements.

In a certain dose the muriate of lime will damp the appetite & so will digitalis once in 1000 times, perhaps even in a less dose than 5 or even 2 drops twice a day – I do not accuse it now.

I never swung a patient so tall in any way while labouring under curved spine – I have many children with crooked bones by the legs & if I c^d continue it well with young ladies in their teens, I w^d swing them if they had curved spines by the legs in preference – I need not state my reasons, I suppose, I certainly think there cannot be any objection to repeated short swingings by the arms in the day – & I w^d swing too a little by the arm of that shoulder which stands most out – swinging by the arms does great things in flattening the scapulae – I think its primary action on the muscles but it does affect the bones too – strip a child – look at his naked shoulder blades – suspend him by his arms & observe how much flatter his shoulder blades lie in the back –

In order to expedite ossification, I beg to suggest a good deal of dry rubbing (or with soap liniment) on the curvature – also either of the following – or both in succession –

Carbonated (or supercarbonated) natron half a drachm – water ad libitum dissolve – add Epsom salt gr<ains> XV (or as much as does not purge) – Dilute vitriolic acid a drachm & half (I mean z^c acid vitr. Dilute. Of the pharmacopeia) – Tinct. of muriated iron xii drops into the acid – pour the first solution on the acid & drink it effervescing twice a day –: Both the salts here are purgative – watch that –

2. infusion of roses, as in the pharmacopeia 2 or 3 tablespoons. Epsom salts as before & T. of muriated iron – To either, if the skin be dry or hot add Tinct. of digitalis as before

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I have been trying this additional mode of ascertaining change in curvatures – make 2 marks one above another on the spinous processes of the curvature – Then fix the leg of a pair of compasses on . one first & place the other leg horizontally at any distance – make the point do the same

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on the other side – Repeat this from the 2^nd mark – At any time afterwards, in the same attitude, try the distance –

supposing on moles or artificial marks on the fleshy parts of the arms legs or thighs, you were to measure from them to see if the limbs thicken a little or do not decrease –

Mrs Beddoes [?barely] tolerable – begs kind remembrances
I am yr^s always

Thomas Beddoes

Address: Jos Wedgwood Esq. / Etruria / Newcastle / Staffordshire
Endorsement: Dr Beddoes / Oct^r 1^st 1807
MS: WE/EL/1/1/L40–7055