Advice for a patient with gonorrhoea sent by Thomas Davidson, an apothecary in Edinburgh, 24 March 1568. This letter was probably sent to William Douglas, Laird of Lochleven. The patient was too far from Edinburgh to send a urine sample.

Davidson died in 1574 and his registered will includes a full inventory of his apothecary stock.

Rycht assured weil belovit friend efter hartlie recommandations

I have resaved your writing as concerning your friend quha is trowbled with that seiknes quhilk is namid gonerrhea be the mediciners quhair he is subject to ane drye wame

It is of veratie that the constipatioun of the wame is and may be ane greitt occatioun of the samin be reason that commonlie thayes that ar subiect therto hes thairthrow greitt inflamatioun and heitt in thair veires quhilk causes the involuntarie flowing of the sperm be reason of the liquifactioun therof throught the said inflamatioun and heitt displeasour alsua and anger maye greittumlie augment and causs the samin quhairfor it salbe maist neidfull fyrst to refresche & cule the veires

Secundlie to denss and mak thik the sperme and thridlie to comfort the veschellis retentives therof And this maye be done partlie be his diett and partlie be medecine

First as concerning his diett I wraitt before with yow sum part therof and ye writt that the gentill man is sua subiect to constupatioun that he feiris to use onie thing therof may augment

the samin quhays opinioun is gud in thatt bott always we mon have respect to ye greittest neid that is to – restrane ye sperme howbeit that in sua doing we sould sumpt bind and constupatt the wame, quhilk maye be halpett be the use of sum laxative as be the taiking of sum clisters quhilk was maist proper for him gyf he mycht have the commodatie

Alwayes falyeing therof sum cassia fistula or ellis ane lytell of the leifis of senne bound with ane lyte lytell clowis in ane lening clayth and soddin in ane lytell of the brewe of ane foule quhilk brewe drawin through ane clein lening clayth may be dronkin in the morning fasten foure houris afore meitt

Alsua comonlie he maye causs mak ane stoif with sum beittis lettouss purpir and violettis leifis soddin with ane piece weill, yong foule of any uther tender flesche of eysie degestion and this he may use bayth for helping of the obedience of his wame as alsua for refresching of his veiris

The caik of led can nocht bind his wame and therfor he may saiflie use it as I schew yow The nycht as he makis for sleip lett him not lie upon his bak nor yitt use to lie upon a fedder bed bott rather upon ane mattelass and paillass of stray

He neid not send his walter becauss that efter the far tursing therof thair can be lytell jugement had therin

And thus for the present quhill further advertisement and occatioun maye serve Praying the eternell to preserve yow of Edinburgh ye xxiiij of marche 1567 your, assurid

Thomas Davidson