144 MEMOIR OF Dlt WRIGHT. 



health, and oppressive engagements. It is on that account 

 far less perfect than I could wish ; and the table of errata is 

 shamefully large, — but it was impossible it should be other- 

 wise. From the month of October till May, I lost, by vene- 

 section, 200 ounces of blood, and took at least eleven ounces 

 of the tincture of digitalis ! I could not otherwise have lived. 

 But my languor and oppression are not to be told. Finding 

 some relaxation essential, I broke away from Liverpool on 

 the 9th ultimo, and penetrated into Scotland as far as Moffat. 

 Thence I crossed into Northumberland, and travelled round 

 the north-east coast of England, returning to Liverpool by 

 Harrowgate, Leeds, and Manchester. I reached home, after 

 an absence of twenty-two days, in the course of which I 

 travelled 650 miles, on the 2d instant. I was much improv- 

 ed by my journey, and am now much better, though not 

 quite confirmed. I have been able to give up bleeding and 

 digitalis, and have an excellent appetite for milk and vege- 

 tables, which constitute all my food. Depend on it, I was 

 much mortified to be so near you and my other friends in 

 Edinburgh, without seeing you ; — but at the time I had no 

 spirits for the meeting, and no breath for your long stairs. 

 I kept out of all great towns, travelling about thirty miles a- 

 day, and living cool and quiet. 



" The third edition will not be published under three 

 weeks or a month. I wish, therefore, that you should keep 

 this copy to yourself." 



Before this letter had reached its destination, Dr 

 Wright had left Edinburgh on a tour to the High- 

 lands ; and, in consequence of the delay in acknowledg- 

 ing the early copy of the Reports, Dr Currie had 

 again addressed two short letters to Dr Wright, ex- 

 pressing his anxiety lest Dr Wright should have 

 been dissatisfied with his second volume. On the ar- 



