From Thomas Beddoes to Francis Fortescue Turville   20 February 1800

Dear Sir

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter with the inclosure viz. a two pound banknote, for which I thank you – I most sincerely wish that the advancement of Mrs Tourville’s pregnancy may operate a suspension of her pulmonary complaints – After her delivery we shall be enabled to judge what steps are most adviseable for the dispersion of the tubercles & the eradication of the complaint – At her time of life, if this can be done, & I have lately seen this done in numerous instances, there w^d be little danger of a return –

I am prosecuting the trial of rooms temperated & occasionally filled with various fumes – In no case have I seen the slightest reason to repent of the plan – & in several invalids have been rescued from the jaws of death – I am not nearly so much exposed by what I should call prejudice as I had reason to expect –

I do not look for a farther simplification of this part of the treatment in those cases where digitalis alone does not answer – & if the alternative is to go to a foreign climate, I sh^d think the temperated room preferable even with respect to the patients feelings – And it has not escaped you that scarce any climate can answer so perfectly in regard to temperature as a room, well filled up, can be made to do – Besides, we have here the possible advantage of vapours – which I have certainly seen most highly useful –

This is all that occurs to me at present on the subject of Mrs T’s health – I beg my best regards to her – I am

Dear Sir yours most sincerely

Thomas Beddoes

20 Feb. 1800