Letter 2668

Posted on August 2, 2016 by -

Christopher Packe to Hans Sloane – February 19, 1738/9


Item info

Date: February 19, 1738/9
Author: Christopher Packe
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 220


Original Page


Transcription

Fol. 220 I have the honour to acquaint that Mr Roberts has had some [] towards his fitts again. On the 18th instant in the morning the day yt ye full moon, he was taken with a numbness and pain in his head, in his bed. He eat little breakfast and less dinner and has failed in his stomach ever since; the same afternoon he had the usual symptoms that precede his fitt, swelling of the nose, a wildish look in his eyes, a numbness in his leg, upon which which they gave him ye vomitt which discharged very much thick with phlegm as usuall; which chequed (?) the fitt and he has had no effects since; but he is listless, and don’t care for victualls or motion. I thought him a little feverish; I vomited [] today and gave coral[] and ordered him to use them till I [] with yr further directions. He has followed yr last orders both as to diet and medicine to this time, with swift exactness and I can’t find any mismanagement to charge with this seeming relapse and am apprehensive of the next [] moon. Mr Lemott will be in touch sometime next week, but I thought it not proper to stay so long for your commands wherefore by his order, I give you this trouble and hope to have the satisfaction of ye directions…

Christopher Packe (1686-1749) was a physician and cartographer. His work was published in the Philosophical Transactions and he was involved in a controversy over the proper treatment of concussions with Dr. John Gray (Gordon Goodwin, ‘Packe, Christopher (1686–1749)’, rev. Giles Hudson, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21072, accessed 9 July 2014]).



Patient Details

  • Patient info
    Name: Mr. Roberts
    Gender:
    Age:
  • Description

    The patient had been suffering from fits, the symptoms of which were described as 'a swelling of the nose, a wildish look in his eyes and a numbness in his leg'. A loss of appetite and general listlessness were accompanying symptoms. He also complained of a numbness and pain in his head.

  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
    Previous Treatment:

    Patient was vomited.


    Ongoing Treatment:
    Response:
  • More information
  • Medical problem reference
    Epilepsy, Head