Letter 1705

[fol. 200] Sr Upminster Nov: 3 1710 My little Daughter had some time since a sore Throat wch with repelling medicines went off & (as I imagine) turned upon her Lungs. For she was seized immediately wch a great suffocation like to have carried her off divers times. She coughed up several pieces of white stuff like rags wth her violent strainings & agitations of her Lungs. She hathe been blooded, taken Linseed oyl, & Also Pec- toral things, takes now Lucat: Bals. By reason she raise blood oftentimes. Her cough is now for ye most part gone & all other symptoms off, only a great hoarse- ness continues, & sometimes a kind of Palpita- tion of her heart all day long. She hath for near a fortnights time, been taken wth such a Blindness yt she cannot discern leters or small things distinctly, not even know the spots on ye cards from one another. And yet her Eyes are clear, & free from the least appearance of Cata- racts even when peeped into wth a Microscope: neither hath there been any soreness or humour at all in them. Knowing your great judgmt in these matters, I beg the favour of your opinion & di- rections in my poor childs case. I forgot to tell you she is above 9 years old. I am sorry I have been so long detained from the Societies affairs. The occasions whereof were the Lying in of my Wife, & the Death afterwards of that Child at the very time of some frequent Councils I had summons unto; & near 3 weeks agoe my Wife loosing a very dear & indulgent Mother hath occasioned a great many journeys & other in- terruptions from any other business. But I hope in some short time to be able to wait on you in Crane-court, to wch I met Mr Hunts summons last night at my return home. I fear Crane-court house is much too little for us, a Library & a Repository fit for the reception of the benefactions we allready have, or may in all future ages compass, being I think necessary. But you are better judges of these matters than I who have not yet had an opportunity of discoursing a- bout them. Ed: Lucking returns you many thanks for the 5s you sent him by me: he tells me all things are very well at your Farm, & yt he will faithfully advertize you, by me, of any thing Amiss there. Wth great respect I am Sr Your much obliged humble servt Wm Derham