Letter 0124

Posted on August 2, 2016 by -

Samuel Dale to Hans Sloane – December 6, 1723


Item info

Date: December 6, 1723
Author: Samuel Dale
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4075
Folio: f. 53


Original Page


Transcription

At the end of the letter there is mention of a parcel that he sent to [illegible] ‘fell into the hands of Pirates’. He found out that the parcel was gone from a letter from Mr Catesby sent to his uncle who is Dale’s neighbor. Samuel Dale was an apothecary, botanist, and physician who contributed several articles to the Philosophical Transactions. He was John Ray’s executor and good friend, and from Dale’s letters to Sloane we learn many details of Ray’s final moments (G. S. Boulger, Dale, Samuel (bap. 1659, d. 1739), rev. Juanita Burnby, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7016, accessed 5 July 2013]).



Patient Details

  • Patient info
    Name: N/A William Beauvoir
    Gender:
    Age:
  • Description

    Dean of Bocking. Had cachexical habit and long history of violent hemorrhages. This had worsened over time, but he only noticed it recently when an ascites visibly increased. Had tumour in abdomen and legs, emaciated upper parts, thirst, scanty urine, little appetite and bad digestion.

  • Diagnosis

    Dale believes that the patient has a tumour of the abdomen and legs.He attributes this to his symptoms which include: emaciation of the upper body, thirst, "lixivial" urine which is less that what he drinks, loss of appetite and poor digestion.

  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:

    Initially recommended purging, which was granted, but had to be gentle. Patient refused to repeat it, as well as chalybeat medicines. He did take spa water mixed with wine. Refused pills and electuaries, which did not suit his temper.


    Ongoing Treatment:

    Yesterday gave him an infusion of senna, rhubarb and jalap. Took spoonful of rhubarb remedy each morning ("only medicine he sticks to".


    Response:

    Had not heard how it worked, but patient passed a more comfortable night due to the treatment.

  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Urinary, Stomach, Wasting, Blood, Hydropsy, Kidney