Letter 2598

(f. 93) Sir I’m desired by Sir Adolphus Oughton to let you know how ill he has been for this week past. The side of his face began to swell, and be very uneasie to him on Wednesday last which was a month from the day that he was taken ill in the same manner and the second time that he observd it to return precisely at the end of the month. On Thursday night the pain grew so violent that no torture could be more acute; it was mitigated a little with a fomentation, a pultice and an anodyne draught: but afterwards perceiving that the pain grew more intense every other night, shooting in to his ear with such violence that no patience could endure it, He took (in order to prevent it, or at least make it more tolerable) several doses of the bark in the same form that you was pleased to prescribe it: this tryal was so far successful that the pain in his ear has never been very troublesome to him since, but still the side of his face continues very hard, tense, red and full of pain. The days are somewhat tolerable, but the nights exceeding grievous to him, for as he has always more or less of a fever upon him at that time, the swelling and pain increase in proportion, so that he rests and sleeps but very (f. 93v) little. He sweats much which together with the pain and fever make him very weak and low spirited. One thing surprizes [torn] which in my humble opinion is easie to be accounted for; He [had] yesterday a chilness which lasted about six or seven minutes and dureing that time the swelling sunk somewhat, and the pain was abated all of a sudden, but as he grew hot immediately after, the swelling increased more, and the pain returnd as formerly. This morning also the swelling was less than in the night, and the pain ceas’d leaving no soreness to the touch; tho’ now at 12 o’clock after having taken a dose of the bark and a glass of wine and water, the pain begins to return; that is, I presume, whenever the motion of the blood becomes more languid, as in a cold fit, or after an access of the fever has spent it self, the blood dos not beat against the obstructed part with so much violence, whence the distension and pain must abate; the contrary to which happens in s hot fit where the blood moves with a greater rapidity; this I write to satisfy Sir Adolphus and not to inform you whom I acknowledge with pleasure to be vastly my superior. The part is now red, swelld and full of pain, and pits below the ear from the pressure of the finger, nor dos any pus yet come by the salival duct as it used to do at London, so that we hope it may break outwardly. This is the fourth return of the same illness, and every return (f. 94) [has] acquired more strength and violence than the preceding. [torn] the whole your advice is very much desired by Sir Adolphus Sir Your most obedient humble servant James Mackenzie Barwick July 30th 1728 Pray adress your answer to me at Sir Adolphus’s house at Tatchbrooke near Warwick Mr Amiand has been sent to by this Post