ABOUT three weeks ago I put into your hands an extract of a letter,
I had then received from Dr. Whytt, containing a postscript to his
_Observations on Lord_ Walpole’_s Case_; and slightly mentioning some
doubts he had then about the justness of Dr. Springsfeld’s experiments
with lime-water, from some trials he himself had made, upon reading
that gentleman’s curious treatise on the extraordinary lithontriptic
quality of the waters at Carlsbad in Bohemia. Within these few Days,
Dr. Whytt having favoured me with a full account of those experiments,
I have herewith sent you his paper, in order, if you please, to lay
it before the Society; which the author desires may be done, in case
these observations should be judged useful.
The other paper inclosed was sent me by the same hand, to be likewise
presented to the Society, as a well-attested instance of the electrical
power in the cure of a palsy. To the other testimonies I have subjoined
what Dr. Whytt says in his letter to me, by way of strengthening the
evidence. I shall only add, that since Mr. Brydone, the author of
this account, has omitted telling how long the patient has continued
in perfect health since the operation, it appears she must have been
well for some months before the date of his paper; because, before the
end of last summer, Dr. Whytt transmitted the same case to me, which
I then returned, in order to have it drawn up in a fuller manner, and
with other vouchers besides the gentleman, who performed the cure. The
Doctor has been so good as to comply with my request, having procured
a more ample account of the circumstances from Mr. Brydone, and the
attestation of two ministers, besides that of the patient herself.[200]
My difficulties being thus removed, I believe I may now with freedom
offer this very curious case to the attention of the Society.