Dortch, William Baskerville, 1828-1882
Page 1
Chapel Hill, NC.
Dec 11th 1846
Dear Friend, Johnst
Your very acceptable favor was received in due time. I am under very many
obligations to you for the prescription you sent me. The prescription is for
the Eczema. The disease that I have is not the Eczema but the porrigo or
prunigo I have forgotten which. As
Dr Jones says, Little bumps
rise upon the skin, which have black scabs upon them, and it itches very
much. So the prescription you sent me will not answer. I had both of them
prepared the wash I have tried and perceive no benefit arising from it. It
(the disease) is getting worse, and I am fearful it will be hard to cure.
Dr
Jones says he thinks it will. he says also that if I could be so
situated as to take vapor baths he could cure me directly.
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I have an idea of going to
Raleigh. I shall
try
Dr
Jones until next wednesday and if he does not do me some good by
that time, I mean that I will go to the city.
There are twelve students on the
Hill, the Law students excepted. Four in
South
, 4 in
East
3 in
west
and Gin Clinch in
the village. We have rather a dull time of it. I do at least. The
west
fellows are tight
(I may say beastly drunk half thier time. My Statesman,
"Old Eucher" the
other night while it was raining was lying down at the well in the mud
& water so drunk that he could not get up, he lay there some time
squalling out to some one to help him out before any person would do it.
Bryan
Whol-field at last went to him, his companions were so tight that
they could hardly navigate & .
I expected to leave the
Hill on last friday and anticipated enjoying a great
deal of pleasure, but "this disease the porrigo" getting
worse I am afraid that I wont leave the
Hill at all. I forgot to tell you in the
beginning of my letter in the description of the disease that a good many of
the little bumps were turning into biles and some look white on the outside
but pick them and nothing would come out but a little blood which would form
a black scab.
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I would be very glad and thank
you kindly if you would consult
Dr Johnson and get his opinion.
I fear this will terminate in something serious. Having penned you all the
current news and bored you with a dissertation on myself I will now desist
with the expectation of an immediate answer.
Charley Herrod
sends you his best repects to you. Give mine to
Pag and the rest of the boys who know me and also
to all my relations whom you know.
PS.
Write soon, and be not astonished if you should see me in the "Cit
of Oaks and fooleries" before long. I
have been visiting once since your departure from this "Classic
spot' to the Parsons of course and intended to go to night but one of these
little bumps "hurt so bad" that
I could not.
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