From Thomas Beddoes to Thomas Wedgwood   12 August 1794

Now, my dear Sir, I will answer your letter immediately because I much wish the projected Medical Pneumatic Institution to have your support. In the first place I refer you to a small pamphlet entitled Letters from Dr. Withering and Dr. Ewart & c to me, Johnson 1794, wherein are facts tending to shew the medicinal powers of elastic fluids. I think I can aver that in several cases which common medicines c^d not reach this new mode of treatment has been efficacious: I have reason to believe that oxygene air will be almost infallible in putrid fevers as they are called; but I have not had instances enough, though when it has been used its powers have appeared very striking. In consumption a lowered air always proves highly grateful; and that some nonrespirable airs have efficacy in this disease, the pamphlet above mentioned, I think, will convince you. I was lately called to Mr Watt’s daughter at Heathfield. She was in a consumption, we applied airs as well as we c^d to her great ease, though she died before we c^d get a proper apparatus made & c five days after I saw her. Mr Watt upon this set himself to work to invent a domestic apparatus for procuring & holding airs; in this he has pretty well succeeded, & I have in my hands a drawing of it to be published with a number of what I think illustrative exp^ts on animals. Messrs Watt, Boulton, & Darwin Mr Keir & many other eminent men from <medicine & > science a [xxxx] think well of my project & they approve of the outline I have drawn, which will very soon be printed & of which I will then immediately forward a copy to you. The Duchess of Devonshire has taken it up with much ardour & I hope she will procure many contributors.

Charcoal has certainly [MS torn] in bowel complaints. After your letter I discovered that a cork burned to charcoal is a domestic medicine for the colic; & as Theophilus Holbrooke assures me, a very efficacious one. I will try its application to chancres.

I am
Dear Sir
With much esteem respectf^lly

Thomas Beddoes

Aug^t 12