MEMOIR OF DR WEIGHT; 147 



Melville at Dunira, to Crieff, in Strathearn, where I remain- 

 ed sixteen days. My route hither was by Dunblane, Stir- 

 ling, Falkirk, and Linlithgow, and after a six weeks' 1 tour, I 

 reached home in excellent health and spirits. 



" The whole journey had much of a medical character. 

 Apprized of my motions, the sick of all descriptions were 

 brought to me, where I was to stay. 1 was always fully em- 

 ployed with poor patients, or with the practitioners, in these 

 remote parts. Our treatment of typhus is begun to be known 

 and practised ; and I had the pleasure of seeing your two 

 volumes in the hands of practitioners in Argyleshire, and at 

 Crieff. It was at this last place that the Scarlatina anginosa 

 was so prevalent and fatal, of which I have given you some 

 account. 



" I hear the fourth edition of your Reports is in forward- 

 ness, and you have no doubt had numerous communications 

 on the subject from all parts. The physicians of London, I 

 believe, are the most backward in the use of the cold-dash. 

 I can only account for this, by suppoing them afraid of the 

 prejudices of their patients, or of the apothecaries, or that 

 the ratio medendi is so contrary to the doctrines which some 

 of them have taught for half a century. In this view, they 

 are more the objects of pity than contempt.'" 



These letters were addressed to Dr Currie's resi- 

 dence at Bath, but they never reached the hands of him 

 for whom they were intended. The increasing illness of 

 this excellent man had induced his removal to Sid- 

 mouth, in Devonshire, where he soon afterwards breath- 

 ed his last. His death is communicated to Dr Wright 

 in a letter from Sid mouth, on the 2d of September 

 1805. The following is an extract : 



" It will, I know, gratify you to find, that, even in the 

 midst of pain and suffering, my father thought of his friends 



K 2 



