TNGenWeb Project/TNGenNet, Inc., (a Tennessee nonprofit public benefit corporation). "The Howard-Smith Collection" Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved. The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville. This file is in text format. Please use your browser's "back" button to return to the previous page. ********************************************************************************* To: Robert McMinn, Postmaster, New Canton, Hawkins County, Tennessee From: Joseph McMinn, Nashville --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 1 March 1816 Dear Brother I have this moment had a conversation with Doctor Robertson on the subject of the prevailing disease-he affirms that letting of Blood is indispensable in all those cases which have the appearance of the pleurisy. That he has taken at different times from one quart to one gallon per day according to the strength of the Patient and boldness of the attack without any regard to the Pulse being high or low. Keep the patient moderately warm by corn Brick or any other means. his drink tea made of Pine tar, sage, or such like herbs, a little weak toddy may be used tho sparingly all to be given warm, not hot, he seems to think that from 1 pint to a quart of Blood ought to be taken at first from a patient of full strength; and after that be governed by the strength of the Patient and the Symtoms.--- I am not able to write you further at this time, as the mail is kept open for my accomodation and all the rest of my letters maled up Jos. Mc.Minn N B Doctor Robertson lives in this place and gives the foregoing remark from experience obtained in the late calamitous times. J M.