From Thomas Beddoes to William Withering   1 February 1803

Dear Sir

It is true that a kind of 3^rd edition of the Essay on Consumption has appeared, but as I was obliged to be concise I c^d not use your father’s notes – I have them very safe & if you greatly wish it, I can copy & return them – But at present I am very busy & wish to be indulged longer –

I think the publication of the cases of palsy prove the pneumatic institution will revive the use of factitious airs. When one considers what medical practice is, one cannot be surprized that an investigation of so much labour & difficulty sh^d go on slowly – But there are symptoms in foreign countries that the enquiry will not be abandoned –

I have great confidence that the gout medicine will establish itself solidly. The contrariety of testimony in medicine makes one doubt one’s own senses. Else I feel the most thorough confidence in this discovery, not less in rheumatism than gout –

Begging your excuse of this hasty scrawl on coarse paper I am
Dear Sir
with sincere regard
Yours

Thomas Beddoes

1 Feb. 1803