
I have read in the newspapers the account of your dangerous illness, and hasten to
extend to you a little information and advice.—I am but two
weeks off from my bed, after having suffered for six weeks
with Bronchial Pneumonia,—such
as you are said to have.—I was taken down at my farm in Westchester County
near Pleasantville station on the Harlem road. And my doctor was Doct Swift of that
place. He brought me through, refusing to permit any cupping as
was done in Florences case; but taking good care, that during
every half
hour, I should have a fresh, hot flax seed poultice
over my lungs in front—not covering the shoulder blades, except that he
gave me a jacket over my shirt, to protect from cold, as I thrashed about. The
jacket was a linen one with sleeves. so that I should not
feel the heat of one.—Now, after a short time, (only
a few hours,) from my left lung, (the one worst affected,) I began to throw off a
green mucus.—This continued for days.—My breath
came & went with a rattle. but this
he assured me would disappear, as it finally did.—My doctor insisted I would live.—others said no. I
could not.—He also gave my nurse each night instructions that at the
end of each 2 hours, I should take a milk punch of Jamaica rum, milk &
sugar,—a wine glass full.—And daytime I should take 2 or 3 as I needed
or felt inclined.—He gave me then sauce to eat.
such as
Partridges, and in fact any thing I felt I could relish. To those flax seed
poultices and the stimulants which kept me up, I
owe my recovery. I am still a little weak,
but my strength is daily improving.—I believe you can recover
if you will follow my suggestions. And you can write to Doct Swift, or I will for
you if you desire & notify me, for the other medicines he gave me to help the
poultices on.
If I can benefit you, you can rest assured I shall only be too happy to do
so.—
My address is for the next week at this Hotel. After that to my office 132 Nassau Street New York City.
Yours Very Sincerely Edward T Wood The Honored Walt WhitmanP.S. I used the poultices of flax seed so hot, that I could barely endure them. Gradually I got so I could have one put on so hot I could not bear my hand upon it. He also painted my lungs with Iodine.—but put the flax seed, red hot right over it.
W
