Box 1

Copy of correspondence to an unknown recipient, possibly a patient, apologizing for not answering a letter and explaining the circumstances that delayed him in writing. Jackson also offers his thoughts on the effects of cold baths, including discussion of their "powerful debilitating effects" on General John Sullivan (1740-1795).

Correspondence to an unknown recipient, possibly a patient, discussing the urgency of treating a case of "septic virus," for which Jackson recommended taking arsenic and a malt infusion. Jackson also encloses transcribed extracts correspondence he received from William Withering regarding the administration and safety of arsenic

Notes taken by Perry when he was a Harvard student during a lecture, possibly by Harvard Divinity School professor Henry Ware (1764-1845), on medicine and religion.

Manuscript concerning physiology.

Correspondence to Mr. Avery regarding edema his wife was experiencing. Jackson excluded dropsy as the cause of her condition, suggesting the swelling was most likely caused by inactivity. He prescribed a squill (sea onion) pill and cream of tartar, among several other recipes containing liquor.

Correspondence to Mr. Card about the course of treatment for his son Andrew, who had a swollen knee that became infected, and his proposal to amputate the boy's leg with the assistance of his father, Clement Jackson.

Copy of correspondence about growing purple foxglove (digitalis purpurea) and its medical effectiveness in conditions such as "glandular diseases of the abdomen," which sometimes accompanied dropsy. He includes case histories of several patients he treated with foxglove for postpartum illness, dropsy, asthma, and swelling, with varying results.

Copy of correspondence to Dr. Thorndike discussing the case of a patient with an abscess, and offering advice regarding the positive effects of cream of tartar and bark.

Correspondence regarding the uses of digitalis purpurea in treating dropsy in American patients. Withering also suggests administering aromatics, steel, and sometimes mercury, and encouraging patients to exercise and wear warm clothing. Withering was responding to a 9 February 1786 letter from Jackson requesting digitalis purpurea seeds. The folder includes transcriptions of both letters, but the original February correspondence is not contained in this collection.