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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Charlie24 on Monday 04 March 24 23:59 GMT (UK)

Title: Decipher writing on Service record
Post by: Charlie24 on Monday 04 March 24 23:59 GMT (UK)
Could someone decipher the handwriting on this medical record for my ancestor, in particular the last columns - Diseases, Treatment and Observations?
Title: Re: Decipher writing on Service record
Post by: shanreagh on Tuesday 05 March 24 01:10 GMT (UK)
Last one looks like

1 XXX poss  ipecac https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_of_ipecac used to induce vomiting
2 laxa (tives?)
turpentine XXX

Turpentine was used ....Taken internally as a diuretic. Oil of Turpentine - used internally as a stimulant, to kill intestinal worms, and as a purgative. It could be used externally as a blistering agent.

These were given to him by the 'Dispentary'
Title: Re: Decipher writing on Service record
Post by: Charlie24 on Tuesday 05 March 24 01:57 GMT (UK)
Many Thanks shanreagh - very helpful!
Title: Re: Decipher writing on Service record
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 05 March 24 08:19 GMT (UK)
The disease in 1866 was Dysentery.

"Because physicians did not know what caused the disease, they treated the symptoms, often using purgatives like turpentine or castor oil, which in fact, only made the problem worse"

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/common-diseases-18th-and-19th-century#:~:text=A%20bowel%20infection%2C%20dysentery%20was,disease%20was%20not%20always%20fatal.
Title: Re: Decipher writing on Service record
Post by: shanreagh on Tuesday 05 March 24 22:43 GMT (UK)
Aaah so what I was reading as dispentary is disentary.  yes the combo of turpentine and Syrup of Ipecac would be hard to handle