LETTER CLIII.
Georgetown, Feb. 23, 1817.
Sunday.
My dear Theodore,
Your letter of the 17th reached me yesterday morning,
after the worst night that I have had since my indisposition
commenced. It was, I believe, a case of croup, combined
with the affection of the liver and the lungs. Nor was
it unlike tetanus, since the muscles of the neck and back were
rigid, and the jaw locked. I never expected, when the
clock struck two, to hear the bell again; fortunately, as I found
myself going, I despatched a servant (about one) to the apothecary
for an ounce of laudanum. Some of this poured down
my throat, through my teeth, restored me to something like
life. I was quite delirious, but had method in my madness;
for they tell me I ordered Juba to load my gun, and to shoot
the first "doctor" that should enter the room; adding, they
are only mustard seed, and will serve just to sting him. Last
night, I was again very sick; but the anodyne relieved me.
I am now persuaded that I might have saved myself a great
deal of suffering by the moderate use of opium. This day
week, when racked with cramp and spasms, my "doctors"
(I had two) prescribed (or, rather, administered) half a glass
of Madeira. Half a drop of rain water would have been as
efficient. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I attended
the House; brought out the first day by the explosion
of the motion to repeal the internal taxes; and the following
days, by some other circumstances that I will not now relate.
Knocked up completely by the exertion. Instead of recalling
my physicians, I took my own case boldly in hand; took 1½
grains of calomel—on Thursday night, and yesterday, using
mercurial friction. The liver is again performing its functions,
and I am, this evening, decidedly better than I have
been since the first attack, which I may date from my fall at
Mr. T's., on Tuesday, the 21st of January. From that period,
the operations of the liver have been irregular and disturbed.
I conceive the lungs to be affected by sympathy,
with the other viscus. I have taken from five 5 to 10 grains
of the hyper carbonated natron, every day, most generally 5
grains, in a table spoonful of new milk, sometimes repeating
the dose at night: my drink has been slippery elm tea, and
lemonade. Appetite for acids very strong. Severe pains in
the fasciæ of the legs and the tendons, just above the outer
ankle bone; also, knees, &c. &c. I have taken from the first,
a pill of 1½ grains of calomel, about two, sometimes three times
a week; and several doses of Cheltenham salts. I have used
the volatile liniment for my throat and limbs; also, gargles of
sage tea, borax, &c.
Your letter is so ambiguously worded, that I know not
whether you have received mine, countermanding the horses.
I am a plain matter-of-fact man, and had rather read as many
repetitions as are to be found in a bill in chancery, than be at
a loss for the meaning. I keep no letter book, nor even
memorandum. Several of my letters, it seems, have not come
to hand; but I cannot recollect their contents, by their dates:
therefore, know not which have miscarried.
Mrs. John M., Mrs. B., and Mrs. F. K., have been very
kind, in sending me jellies, lemons, &c: &c. Thomas M. N.
has been extremely attentive and obliging. Mr. K., of New
York, Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. H., of Maryland, Mr. M., of
South Carolina, Mr. B., of Georgetown, (I need not name F.
K.) M. (no longer Abbé) C. de S., and D., have been very
kind in their attentions. Mr. M. sent me some old, choice
Madeira, and his man cook to dress my rice; (a mystery not
understood any where on this side of Cape Fear river;) sending,
also, the rice, to be dressed; and Mr. Chief Justice came
to assist me in drawing up my will—which I had strangely
and criminally neglected, for some time past, and of which
neglect I was more strangely admonished in a dream.
At any other time, I should have regretted, very much,
the ruin of my expected saddle-horse; at present, there is not
much prospect of my wanting him. Decatur has just been
talking to me of you and Roanoke; both rider and horse seem
to have made a strong impression on him. P., also, spoke
of you. Had he known we lived together, he would have
accompanied you to Roanoke.
If this dose of egotism do not sicken you, aloes will not.
Farewell, and good night.
JOHN RANDOLPH, of Roanoke.
Theodorick Bland Dudley, M. D.
Past ten, Sunday, Feb. 23.
Juba has been very ill.
It is now hailing very fast. Until this morning, it has been
warm since Monday. Thermometer here has been 6° below
zero of Fahrenheit; at Albany and Boston 14° and 18°. Boston
harbour frozen up nine miles below the town, where it is
nothing but the great Atlantic—wagons and sleighs passing
over to Castle Island and Fort Independence.
B. writes that the clover seed at T. and M's. ought to be
in the ground.
A letter from Dr. C., introducing Mr. James C. B., his
brother-in-law. (R. W. is here.) Also, a letter from good
Dr. L. and H. T. He (H. T.) was in Philadelphia, on the
16th, and intended to be here before the coronation. Arm
bound to his body. He has not been made acquainted with
the fate of his arm, as his spirits were very low. He went
with Ryland to see St. George, and was surprised to find his
madness of so bad a type. He tears every thing to tatters
that he lays his hands on. He recognised his uncle, at once;
but the moody expression of his countenance indicated, in
Harry's opinion, incurable insanity.
The doctors are killing poor G., "secundum artem."
Sunday Morning, Feb. 24.
The last night "was winter in his roughest mood;"—from
a disagreeably warm day and evening, it turned to hail, sleet,
and snow, about 9 o'clock, P. M. It is now (10 o'clock, P.
M.) snowing very fast. The wind, which has blown a storm
in gusts and flaws all night, continues very high: it has got
round from north-east to north-west.
