Thomas Beddoes to T.G. Estcourt, 20 October 1807
20 Oct. 1807
My dear Sir
I received Mrs Estcourt’s letter & yesterday your little boy – It seemed quite a pity that he should go to a cheerless lodging – indeed his being with us is no sort of inconvenience. I only apprehend that as he is in such excellent order, he may learn something wrong from the children here –
I had formerly marked this little gentleman as likely to suffer severely from the consequences of acute disorders & indeed did not believe that his constitution was not strong enough without assistance to cope with the common run of things – As is usual in such habits from various occasions, his mesenteric glands appear to be getting diseased – It is a very dangerous complaint undoubtedly; & connects itself with others – & there seems reason to believe that it has been gaining ground rapidly of late. But I flatter myself that we shall soon check its progress, though the rate of recovery is very various in these cases –
I do not see why you should delay sponging the moment the cartashal symptoms are gone, as they seem to be now – What you state of the other pain is very particular – It does not follow that it may not be connected with a given medicine, though that shd not affect any body else so – It is not of course the old pain, which I supposed to arise from fullness of bladder? – If the nervous catch shd return, I think you will find the medicine remove it
Please to remember me to Mrs Estcourt – I leave it to Miss Mathews to give an acct of herself – Believe me, my dear Sir
yrs very faithfully
Thomas Beddoes
Be so good as direct the inclosed to Dr Berger – Rev. T. Morrell’s / St Neots / Huntingdonshire
It is recommended that Mr Estcourt take his day draughts for about 4 days as now prescribed – that supposing the symptoms of catching to disappear after the use of these & the ointmt, he shd begin upon the others & take them for a week – at the end of which time it is to be presumed, he will be nearly well & in a condition to resume the cold spunging – It may be more convenient to take pills in place of a 3rd drt & these contain half a grain of calomel which in 6 days will probably improve the secretion about the fauces
Address: T. G. Estcourt Esq MP / New Place / Devizes //
MS: Gloucestershire Archives D1571/F227