Letter 1658

James Keill to Hans Sloane – March 14, 1709


Item info

Date: March 14, 1709
Author: James Keill
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: ff. 110-111



Original Page



Transcription

Keill did not formally attend medical school, but through the patronage of Sloane he obtained the degree of MD from Cambridge. Sloane helped Keill enter into medical practice in Northampton (Anita Guerrini, Keill, James (16731719), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15255, accessed 31 May 2011]).




Patient Details

  • Patient info
    Name: N/A Unnamed Woman
    Gender:
    Age:
  • Description

    The patient 'had a thick and foull blood' and a 'stoppage of the menses' for a prolonged period.

  • Diagnosis

    Keill thought her 'sullen and obstinate humour occasioned by some discomfort or disappointment' had caused the interruption of the menses at first, but is not so sure at present.

  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:

    Medicine to thin her blood and 'promote the menses'. The treatment induced vomiting.


    Ongoing Treatment:

    Keill gave her the treatment Sloane suggested and added 'Molampod', which appeared to raise her pulse. He 'took a little blood from her'.


    Response:
  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Depression, Menstrual, Vomiting, Blood