Pardon me for saying, that for sundry motives
which will readily occur to you, I am not without uneasiness
respecting Mr. Whitwell. I conjecture that for fever joined
to pleuritic systems, he has not lost a sufficiency of blood.
Sydenham's rule is 40 ounces for the cure of the pleurisy
of an adult; & you know what the averages of [smart] fever-attacks
require. To get into the train of bleeding again will require
caution; but I think you may safely propose to yourself 4
ounces, & by the effect of the bleeding be governed as to
any thing beyond. I think you will always find his pulse sufficiently
[wiry], or his cough sufficiently catching, to permit this
for a single trial.
Secondly, if no blister has been applied
to his breast, should not one go there? You [must] perceive
that the habit of your patient does not warrant against a
consumptive sequel, if strong measures are not taken at present.
Thirdly, though I am ignorant of the