Letter 1701

James Keill to Hans Sloane – October 13, 1710


Item info

Date: October 13, 1710
Author: James Keill
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: ff. 190-191



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 was bled 'ten ounces or more' last Saturday, which did not relieve his breathing difficulties but made things relatively better 'for three or four night[s]'. He was given two 'Blistering' treatments as well as 'some Lintseed oyl and Sry: Balsam'. This did not give him any respite. He suffered from sleep deprivation and a quickening of the pulse as a result.

  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:
    Ongoing Treatment:

    Keill took more blood prior to writing Sloane, but fears more relapses.


    Response:

    He requests Sloane's presence at Dunstable, where a coach will bring him to see Lord Lempster on 'Saturday night'.

  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Sleeplessness, Pulse