Thomas Beddoes to Francis Douce, 22 June 1808
Dear Sir
It is most likely that you have already applied to medical men for your propensity to take cold till your faith in our art is worn out or that you have had no faith from the first – However if you will take the trouble of answering the enclosed queries, I shall be very happy to put you upon the best plan of diet which I can devise. – It may be possible to mitigate the inconvenient excess of sensibility in the mucous membrane –
We suffer during the short continuance of our hot weather more from heat than the E. Indians – & in winter more from cold than the Russians & Canadians – It appears clearly that the high temperature of ye rooms in which these people live, does not dispose to take colds – The Bp of Quebec, a sensible observing man, was very subject to colds before he went to Canada – was totally free there, & for 2 years that he has been in England, he & his family have had nothing but colds, from which all had been exempt for 12 years before – <& this is general in the province.> Our island for dampness of air is a cellar in comparison with the interior of continents – I had, as you see, concluded that we are more cold-catching than our forefathers – you seem to think the same? – One specific question I wd put to you is – where is yr evidence for the fact? – a second, can you posit any circumstances in the mode of living, which may have made us more tender? – an other point wd be; are there indications of a change of climate? –
I shd extremely like to see what A. Borde says of his phticia – as medicine had grown more & more discrimination, I had conceived that old authors have confounded ulcerative consumption of the lungs – humoural asthma – catarrhus senilis – under the common name of ptisic – though every one up to the level of the current information can now in most cases easily distinguish between these –
I shd be very thankful for any old medical books bearing on my subject – & I wd be careful to return them safe & soon –
I remain Dear Sir most respectfully yours
Thomas Beddoes
22 June 1808
If you think it worth while to write soon, please address under cover to – M Russell Esq MP Clifton Bristol
MS: Bod MS Douce d.21/ff.176–177