Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
M. Mayhew to Elizabeth Sloane (Sir Hans Sloane's Wife) – April 10, n.d.
Item info
Date: April 10, n.d.
Author: M. Mayhew
Recipient: Elizabeth Sloane (Sir Hans Sloane's Wife)
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 134
Original Page
Transcription
(f. 134)
Madm
My good Lord has benn so kind as to tell me I should wright you an acount of my unhappy complaints which is a mixture of pains all over me from head to futt in the furst place in my head neck shoulders in all my joynts with a great weakeness and soreness in them till I ame lame of my Anckls & feete & paunes me as bad in beed as when I stur about & my head is worst when laid. it trobls me much in my stumach & in my back till I know not how to rise when I am sett nor how to sett long it trouble me so not all these places at once but runs a bout some times worst in one place and somtimes in an other with faint cold sweets I have takne three purges & benn bluded but it dos noe good att all–
turn over
(f. 134v)
it has binn upon me at time this 800 years but never left me since Xmas last not a weeke together I wish I had better helth to sence in my place better then now I am able this I hope you will be so kind as to tell ye docter
This from your humble
servant M Mayhew
April ye 10th
Possibly addressed to Elizabeth Sloane, probably before 1715 when Sloane was knighted.
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Charles Maitland to Hans Sloane – August 8, 1721
Item info
Date: August 8, 1721
Author: Charles Maitland
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 96
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 96
Honoured Sir
This comes to give you notice that the operation of inoculating the smallpox on the prisoners in Newgate is to be performed tomorrow morning about nyne o’clock, At which time your presence there will be very acceptable to
Honoured Sir
Yours most obedient
humble servant
Cha: Maitland
Charles Maitland (1668-1748) was a Scottish surgeon who, with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, introduced smallpox inoculation to England. His first demonstration was to the Royal College of Physician in 1721. Then in 1722 an experiment was carried out on six prisoners at Newgate Prison under the direction of Sir Hans Sloane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Maitland_(physician).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Manley to Hans Sloane – November 2, 1723
Item info
Date: November 2, 1723
Author: John Manley
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 115
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 115
He tells me the woman is very careful and vigilant in complying with all your directions. But he himself is so negligent that he has sometimes bepiss’t his Breeches in the day time. I say tis his own negligence, for he is never deny’d leave to go down whenever he asks it.
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Manley to Hans Sloane – n.d.
Item info
Date: n.d.
Author: John Manley
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 125
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 125
Master Plowden’s mishaps. pain, cold, feverish.
…I impatiently wait for your commands, and desire you will be very particular in them: and tell me what dyet he must have, especially in the Lent time which is very near: a time when we abstain from flesh, except when necessity forces us to the contrary…
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
S. Mapletoft to Hans Sloane – August 15, 1724
Item info
Date: August 15, 1724
Author: S. Mapletoft
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: ff. 127-128
Original Page
Transcription
Fols. 127-128
I beg leave to remember you…Mr Greenhill was to consult you in a settled disorder of his head, a species of vertigo, brought upon him first by removing from Hartfordshire a clear sharp air to … a dampy fen air, in which he has been about ten years, his first disorder was just upon entrance, a slow continued nervous feaver, which went of[f] but sluggishly and seems to have shock’d and weaken’d the whole nervous system the badness of the air still contributing, that life is con’t but with unplesantness not long before He apply’d to you. He was gradually seiz’d with near a total desperation of life. his Blood stagnating in his extreme parts and they went cold, but was happily relieved and only then, by bleeding. He is about five and thirty years of age and born certainly with as strong and firm stamina vitae as any man and is as well and robust as possible this unhappiness above excepted, has much endeavour’d to make out for the air by increase exercise, in an use of which, He says always, he is better but no sooner discon’t, than a return of his disorder, He is of a plethorick habit and eats moderately drinks and sleeps very well, but no sooner wakens than than the usual complaint, He bleeds as oft as there seems any advanced fulness of blood, takes vomits, purges and has us’d the most efficacious alteratives but always without any sensible relife, though I do imagine they back future ills; but this is justly observable. He never changes ye air, but finds an almost immediate abatement of this disorder
[Sloane: Elect, cephal. chalybeat, pil calhart]
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Napper to Hans Sloane – October 30, 1724
Item info
Date: October 30, 1724
Author: John Napper
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 139
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 139
I am favoured with your friendly advice and letter sent me by Mr Wayte, as also the spaw water and 2 papers of ingredients for tea, which I make use of according to your prescription. But since I sent my case to Mr Conduitt my distemper has prov’d quite another thing, that is, the stone in my kidnies, one of a considerable biggnesse has come away both before and since I have been in a perfect Rack and pine away most miserable, being full of pains all over my Body and Back tormented with wind I am perpetual vomiting so that nothing will agree or digest in my stomach, besides my urine is red with a great settlement of Blood like slyme and very little sand. No rest can I gett att night, having a great palpitation of my heart with a drought and weakness of spirits. I should gladly have more relief from these things, otherwise I can’t think of subsisting, being extremely reduced for want of victuals and rest at night. Your further assistance and speedy assistance is humbly desired.
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Neale to Hans Sloane – February 2, 1718/9
Item info
Date: February 2, 1718/9
Author: John Neale
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 145
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 145
Master Digby a youth of 8 or 9 years of Age, naturally of a strong habit of Body, was affected about a yr ago with a deep jaundice, which some have imputed to a blow he had upon his stomach, but I rather think from obstructions for upon his taking a few doses of pil.rutti.rad.gent.puls and sal absinth at nights when he went to bed, and in the morning 5 spoonfuls of this following decoc…he was perfectly cured and continued hearty and well till the middle of December last, since that time he has labour’d under an obstinate jaundice and the same medicines I presume was made us of which cured him before, but not with that success upon my being called to him I vomited him with a tincture of ipecacuana and gave him rhubarb a scruple made into pills with a few grains of crocus martis; at nights and in the mornings 5 or 6 spoonfuls of the decoc above mentioned; these never moved him without the help of a clyster, nor made any alteration for the better either in his stools urine or complexion, upon which I gave him an infusion of senna, rhubarb and cream of tartar with … and this gave him 3 or 4 stools, and he grew much more lightsom and easy after. I design to repeat this once in 4 or 5 days, and on the intermitting days he takes an infusion … with an expression of millipedes and a few drops of spirit salt armoniac. I find this agrees with him much better than the bitter ingredients and steel and am in great hopes the obstructions will be removed by it. At present his water is of as deep a dye as…, but separates and deposites a very large sediment; his stools are of a light ash colour as before I took this last method with him he was every day pained and griped in his Belly, which now has quite left him. This Sir I have given you as full a description of this little Gentlemen’s case attended with all its symptoms as possibly I can, and should be glad to have yr opinion of him. If you approve of this, or any other method you shall hint to me it shall punctually be observed…
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: Master Digby
Gender:
Age:8 or 9 years of age.
-
Description
Naturally strong habit of body.
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Diagnosis
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Treatment
Previous Treatment: Sal absinth[e] [taken at night]; decoction; vomited [with a tincture of ipecacuana; rhubarb; scruple made into pills with a few grains of crocus martis; cylster; infusion of senna, rhubarb, cream of tartar; expression of millipedes; spirit of salt armoniac.
Ongoing Treatment: Continue the alternating regimen of infusions.
Response:
-
More information
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Medical problem reference
Jaundice, Stomach, Urinary
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Lincoln to Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle – September 28, 1729
Item info
Date: September 28, 1729
Author: Lincoln
Recipient: Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 161
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 161
All the children have been out of order, this last week, but are now pretty well again; Lady Lucy, has had, the St Anthony’s fire in her arm; and a little fever in it, but is now quite well again, she was let blood, and tooke some physick, which has carry’d it, quite off. Harry and Lady Anne have have both had a purging ever since they came here, and indeed have had something of it, even on the road, but for this week past, it was to a great degree, and frightened me, tho’ Harry has never been in the least ill with it, so I think is not at all alter’d with it, tho’ t’as been so long upon him and I send for a Dr to them who told me it was a common effect of change of air, and was partly occasion’d by my having let them eat too much in their journey, and that t’was very happy it took that run, he has given them some little things, that have abated it, and agree with them. Harry’s is now very little and he is [ ] find Ly Anne is as gay as ever, but a good [line torn] before this looseness, she came into France. She hardly ever coughs and has no sort of fever and breaths well of nights, which she did not at home.
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: Lady Lucy
Gender:
Age:Child
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Description
Harry had 'had a purging ever since they came here [Vigan]', the condition of which frightened Lady Lincoln, though he did not appear 'in the least ill with it...[nor] alter'd with it', despite the lingering nature of the illness.
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Diagnosis
A local Doctor thought the condition was due to 'a change of air' and overeating during their journey.
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Treatment
Previous Treatment:
Ongoing Treatment:
Response: Doctor proscribed 'some little things' which abated their symptoms.
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Skin ailments, Fevers, Stomach, Stomach
Posted on August 2, 2016 by Lisa Smith -
Thomas Lovell to Hans Sloane – March 6, 1719/20
Item info
Date: March 6, 1719/20
Author: Thomas Lovell
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 42
Original Page
Transcription
(f. 42r)
Sr,
I doubt not, but that you have thought
me tedious in not writing to you,
since I left the town: I had some acci-
dental business unforeseen when I was
with you, which occasion’d my delay
of following your prescriptions till this
last month: I have now gon through them
and though I cannot yet perceive any
benefit from them, yet I must own
they have had some effect upon my
eyes, by causing a more than ordina-
ry pain in them. Be pleased, Sr, to fa-
vour me with a line, if you can be any
thing beneficial to me, who is
your most obedient and most devoted Humble Servt
Tho. Lovell
Be pleased to direct for
me to be left at Mr
Chrisloes in Grantham Lincolns.
Penny post stamp and remains of red wax seal on exterior of letter.
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Lincoln to Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle – September 28, 1729
Item info
Date: September 28, 1729
Author: Lincoln
Recipient: Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 161
Original Page
Transcription
Fol. 161
All the children have been out of order, this last week, but are now pretty well again; Lady Lucy, has had, the St Anthony’s fire in her arm; and a little fever in it, but is now quite well again, she was let blood, and tooke some physick, which has carry’d it, quite off. Harry and Lady Anne have have both had a purging ever since they came here, and indeed have had something of it, even on the road, but for this week past, it was to a great degree, and frightened me, tho’ Harry has never been in the least ill with it, so I think is not at all alter’d with it, tho’ t’as been so long upon him and I send for a Dr to them who told me it was a common effect of change of air, and was partly occasion’d by my having let them eat too much in their journey, and that t’was very happy it took that run, he has given them some little things, that have abated it, and agree with them. Harry’s is now very little and he is [ ] find Ly Anne is as gay as ever, but a good [line torn] before this looseness, she came into France. She hardly ever coughs and has no sort of fever and breaths well of nights, which she did not at home.
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: Lady Anne
Gender:
Age:Child
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Description
Lady Anne had 'had a purging ever since they came here [Vigan]', the condition of which frightened Lady Lincoln, though he did not appear 'in the least ill with it...[nor] alter'd with it', despite the lingering nature of the illness.
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Diagnosis
A local Doctor thought the condition was due to 'a change of air' and overeating during their journey.
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Treatment
Previous Treatment:
Ongoing Treatment:
Response: Doctor proscribed 'some little things' which abated their symptoms.
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Skin ailments, Fevers, Stomach, Stomach