Letter 4248

Hardisway writes to Sloane to thank him for the visit they had and for the generous gift of his friendship. He recalls 2 years ago when they met at Mars Coffee House after they had met at Dr. Arbuthnot’s and would like to trouble Sloane with a humble request. War seems unavoidable and physicians are needed to attend to the sick and wounded and he would like Sloane to help him to become one of these Physicians, when they are appointed, at Deale or Chatham. He would prefer his town, but does not think there has ever been one placed there. He also has another favour to ask. He recently had a letter from the Lord Viscount Gallway who has said that he will second Sloane for this position. He tells Sloane that he is now 47 years old and has experienced a series of unlucky fortunes and has been unable to make provisions for himself which has made him melancholic. He hopes Sloane will honour him with this patronage. He mentions that the Lord Gallway has a house in Brookstreet Hanover Square and is presently at Serlby near Bautry in Yorkshire. In the post-script, Hardisway writes asking for Sloane’s opinion on a patient of his who within a few weeks has her right arm unable to lift anything heavy or make any sudden motions. She feels it shift with a sense of weariness. There is a depression on it as if a strong ligature had been on some time and them taken off, large enough to lay one of his finger in. She is in all other aspects in good health. He has observed this kind of swelling before (except the dent) in two other patients who both died. One was a 12 year old girl and the other was an older woman who possibly died of old age. Both took 11 days to a fortnight to die and he believes that the blood was obstructed from the cava to the heart. He would like Sloane’s opinion on whether the body may not be formed there and if the patient is in threat of sudden death, and whether bleeding and pyrmont waters would be of any service, or what other course they should take. He has also consulted Dr. Douglas and Dr. Fessier when they were here with her Royal Highness. Peter Hardisway was a student at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was admitted an Extra-Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians in 1719 and practiced medicine in Dover (http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/2024).