Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 1.djvu/159

 I was informed, was adopted, by their going to the venerable Dr. Babington, repeatedly, without being able to meet with him; they again, therefore, consulted their former physician, who treated the idea lightly, but, upon being shown my opinion, he was more minute in his examination, and had the liberality and candour to acknowledge the truth of my suspicions, and continued to treat and attend him, under a full conviction of his having an organic disease of the heart.

I heard nothing more of him until April, 1830, when I was told he was under Dr. Brown, in London, for some affection of the head; and being myself anxious to know the exact nature of his case, I wrote to that gentleman, and, as I feel much indebted to him for his information upon the subject, I trust he will not think that I am taking an unbecoming liberty, in transcribing that part of his letter which more particularly applies to my subject: after stating the death of Mr. H. P. which event took place on the 3rd of May, he says, "unfortunately I could not obtain permission to examine the body, which I very much regret. His death was certainly occasioned by phthisis pulmonalis, but that, at the same time, he laboured under an affection of the heart, there can be no doubt, and, from my long experience, I have no hesitation in saying, an enlargement of that organ." That this opinion was correct, I have not the smallest doubt, although Dr. Brown had not the opportunity of stamping its truth by a post mortem examination. The following dissection I witnessed soon after receiving Dr. Brown's letter: and, as the history of the case so exactly coincides