Letter 1699

James Keill to Hans Sloane – October 7, 1710


Item info

Date: October 7, 1710
Author: James Keill
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: ff. 185-186



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 2 June 2011]).




Patient Details

  • Patient info
    Name: Lord Lempster
    Gender:
    Age:
  • Description

    Lempster decided 'not to goo to the Bath, but to drink the Spaw waters at home'. His breathing problems resurfaced one month ago with 'no cough' and 'little or no wheezing', but with 'a very great shortness of breath' and 'great deal of labour'. He had a 'hard and very quick pulse' and 'brought up' blood in the morning. He was bled twice, which resulted in shortness of breath and sleep deprivation. Keill bled him again, even though his legs were swollen.

  • Diagnosis

    Keill thinks it 'now evident that my Lord has no matter in the Glands or vesicles of the Lungs to... pectorals'. His shortness of breath is related to the condition of his blood.

  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:
    Ongoing Treatment:

    Kiell is going to give Lempster a purgative.


    Response:
  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Blood, Coughs, Lungs, Shortness of breath