1808

Thomas Beddoes to Francis Douce, 30 April 1808

30 April
1808

Sir

I take the liberty of sending you the book on the prevention of consumption – you will see that I had arrived at some conclusions similar to those in yr letter respg. the increased frequency of colds &c – which I believe holds of consumptions itself – As to dress though yr quotation of the statute & other proofs shew that some of our ancestors went as lightly clad as some of us – was not the general garb of the British people steadily more woolleny & warm? That more substantial breakfasts were in use seems confirmed by every document – & butcher’s meat was proportionally cheaper & more used – salted, baked & fresh – Many curious proofs of this in Dr Whitaker’s Deanery of Craven –

Yr seal has destroyed the name of the old author whose ptisii you say is not our consumption – Medical language is only growing by degrees more analytic – Many disorders as catarrhus senilis – asthma – probably mesenteric atrophy were till lately confounded with consⁿ of the lungs – Sh^d y^r leisure allow you to look at my book in 3 weeks, please return it to Mr Guillemard’s – 27 – Gower St –

I am Sir
respectfully yours,

Thomas Beddoes

Address: Francis Douce Esq / British Museum
MS: Bod MS Douce d. 21 ff. 164–165