1808

Thomas Beddoes to T. G. Estcourt, 14 March 1808

Dear Sir

It appears clearly that emptiness & fullness of the stomach are associated with the symptoms about the head which you describe – also that when the circulation is languid in the feet that there is congestion in the head – No doubt that sitting up late, long-continued attention & perhaps fatigue or any kind will be felt in the head

However if you c^d keep the stomach quite right it is probable to me that you w^d be little affected by other causes & that the vessels of the head, now so subject to be overfilled with blood, w^d recover their tone, resist undue distension & carry on the circulation naturally –

There are certainly a class of constitutions to which the rigid diet of Cornaro is suitable, how little so ever it may be generally to be recommended – I take yours to approach towards this – & I conclude from all I have heard lately & of old that the smallest quantity of food, which will support strength, will be the best for you – I am disposed to think that in y^r case the contractile power of the stomach is greatly impeded by full meals – & if you can prevail on yrself to leave off eating with something of an appetite for a week, you may promise yrself to feel lighter & also stronger – the digestive organs probably extract more nourishment from such a portion of aliment as they can completely manage than from a larger –

Epictetus divides things, you know, into such as are, & such as are not in our power – You must settle for yourself whether it be in y^r power to confine yrself to such an allowance of food as is best for you – Of course, it you retrench, you will do it gradually & as you find – It seems obvious that you should take something into the stomach at moderate intervals –

I think the prescription of rhubarb & calomel a very good one – I have ordered Talbot to make up a similar one of which it w^d be good to take a dose every 4^th day – then every 7^th so as to affect the bowels –

I should not have sent medicine to town – coals to Newcastle – if I had not to recommend a very simple ointment for the feet & stomach, which I not long since contrived, which takes some time in making & which I know to be well made here – I recommend this to be rubbed on feet hands & stomach twice a day –

I cannot but think that it w^d be good to dip the head when warm & free from fullness, covered with an oiled silk cap in cold brine once a day – I believe this w^d support the tone of the blood vessels of the head –

If oranges agree with you as well as with Mrs Estcourt, they will be good, & lemons are when oranges are not in season –

I w^d doubtless be cupped, whenever I felt any fullness about the head –
I am dear Sir
yr^s ever truly

Thomas Beddoes

14 March
1808

Address: T. G. Estcourt Esq MP / 25 / Down Street / Piccadilly / London
Postmarks: FREE / 15 MA 15 / 1808 // BRISTOL / 122 / 14 MA 14
MS: Gloucestershire Archives D1571 F227