[Malvern]
Monday
My dear Emma
To go on with the sick life. After Dr G. left yesterday at
7o 30' (& Fanny wrote whilst he was
in the room) we bathed her with vinegar & water, & it was delicious to
see how it soothed her. In the night she rambled for two hours & became
considerably excited, but I find the Dr does
not care so much for this,, as he has ceased to fear the head, which was his main fear.
viz stupefaction coming on.— But to return when the
Dr came at
11o 30' he pronounced her decisively better.
At 10 oclock the surgeon failed to draw the water; but in the dead of the night
her bladder acted of itself & has again, & so have her bowels, after
above a week & the action with consciousness.— I was in wonderful
spirits about all this & no doubt it is very good, but I have just now been a
good deal damped (8o
A.M) by the Dr. finding her pulse tremulous & his
strong dislike to her bowels having acted loosely— I tell you all this, for it
will prevent the too strong & ultimately wretched alternations of spirits. An
hour ago I was foolish with delight & pictured her to myself making custards
(whirling round) as, I think, she called them. I told her I thought she would be better
& she so meekly said “thank you” Her gentleness is
inexpressibly touching.— Fanny is devoting herself too much sadly, but I
cannot stop her: she sat up till 4 this morning (leaving Miss Thorley a whole
night to her surprise for she arranged to call her at 2 oclock:) & then
Fanny lay on Brodies bed to save rousing the servants at her own adjoining
house.— We are under deep obligations to Fanny never to be forgotten. Poor
Annie is in a fearful mess, but we keep her sweet with Chloride of Lime; the
Dr said we might change the under sheet if we could, but I dare not
attempt it yet. We have again this morning sponged her, with vinegar, again with
excellent effect. She asked for orange this morning, the first time she has asked for
anything except water. Our poor child has been fearfully ill; as ill as a human being
could be: it was dreadful that night the Dr. told me it would probably be
all over before morning. If diarrhæa will but not
come on, I trust in God we are nearly safe.— I have hopes that vomiting is
stopped for today.—
Susan & Catty have written most kindly: the former is
better. Catty offers to come here on Wednesday: upon the whole, perhaps it
wd be better not, but I am perplexed what to say, & must consult
Fanny.—
My own dear how it did make me cry to read of your going to Annie's garden for
a flower. I wish you could see her now the perfection of gentleness, patience &
gratitude,—thankful till it is truly painful to hear her.— poor dear
little soul.—
12. oclock.— She has appeared rather more prostrated with knees &
feet chilly & breathing laboured, but with some trouble we have got these right,
& she is now asleep & breathing well. She certainly relishes her gruel
flavoured with orange juice, & has taken table-spoon every hour..— No
sickness, no purging: I wish there was a little less prostration.— She wanders
& talks more today a good deal.—
3 oclock. She is going on very nicely & sleeping capitally with
breathing quite slow— We have changed the lower sheet & cut off the
tail of her Chemy & she looks quite nice & got her bed flat & a
little pillow between her two bony knees— She is certainly now going on very
well.
Your | C. D.
