From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 6 June 1800
To Sarah Livingston Jay
New York 6 June 1800
My dear Sally
My Letter to you by the last post1 informed you, that the Doctr’s. Medicine was producing its Effect, and that part of the little Tumor had separate and come out— the remaining part, which the Doctr. thinks the most important, still continues; but he expects it will be discharged in the course of a few Days more— all the Symptoms he says are favorable—2 Not long after sending that Letter to the post office, I recd. from thence yours of the 2d. Instant;—3
The account it gives of your Indisposition was very unexpected and not a little distressing. You nevertheless did well in communicating to me a candid State of the Matter; and in my opinion that kind of Tenderness which leads persons to keep such unpleasant Circumstances from the Knowledge of their absent Friends, is not to be commended.
I am very anxious to have further accounts of your Health; and beg that nothing material respecting that interesting Subject may be withheld. I very much wish again to find myself with you and the children; tho’ I have every Reason to be satisfied and pleased with the attentions I recieve from this part of our Family— Peggy is suffering from a severe swelled Face— all the Rest of the Family are well, and with our Son desire to be remembered to You and the Children—
Tell Wm. that I am much disposed to take his Word for his being a fine and a good Boy; that ^and^ that I hope to find on my Return that he has not formed that opinion too hastily— my Love to them all I am my dear Sally yours very affecty
John Jay
Mrs. Jay—
ALS, NNC (EJ: 08077). SLJ’s reply not found, but she did mention receiving JJ’s letter in one that she sent to PAJ, 17 June 1800, ALS, NyKaJJH (EJ: 10008).
1. Letter not found.
2. JJ received treatment from Samuel Torbet, M.D., of 1 Harman Street, New York City, for what was probably a chronically infected epidermal cyst. Dr. Torbet prescribed a pill and a plaster, treating JJ for over a month. For Torbet, see Longworth’s American almanac, New-York register, and city directory, for the twenty-fifth year of American Independence (New York, 1800; Early Am. Imprints, series 1, no. 37844), 351.
Jay kept a diary of this episode, dated 6 May to 20 June 1800:
6 May 1800— Having for several Years had a Pimple between the left cheekbone & nose I went to New York from Albany, to obtain medical advice.
On the 13 May I arrived at N York after passing through Bedford and Rye.
On consulting Doctr. Torbett, I concluded to refer this case to his managemt. He observed that considering the Length of Time the Pimple had been on my face, and the Heat & uneasy Sensations which occasionally affected it, he thought it might become serious; and therefore that it was adviseable to remove it.
May. 15— He gave me some Pills—and directed me to take the half of one of them this Evening—
16— I percieved no Effect from the Pill— The Doctr. says that ^after^ five or six Days the Part affected will inflame, and then suppurate—that the Suppuration will leave the Pimple on the Surface, the Flesh healing underneath—
He wet the Pimple with a Hair brush, dipd. in a Liquid, and put on ^it^ a piece of court Plaister about as large as a Shilling piece— the liquid applied did not cause any smarting or other Sensation— He remarked that external applications were only auxiliary— I took this Evening—one half of a Pill—
17— This morning had much nausea, & my Stomach was disturbed throughout the Day. By the Doctor’s Direction, I took only a quarter of a Pill this Evening—
18— Percieved no Effect from the Pill— took half of a Pill this Evening—
19— Percieved no Effect from the Pill— The Doctr. thinks the Pimple is a little more red than it was— He applied the Liquid as before—
I continued in this Course for some Days. He made no alteration in my Diet except directing that I should abstain from Pepper and Vinegar.—
24— The Part begins to inflame—
26— The Inflamation increases
28— The Inflamation continues to increase and extend—
29— The Inflamation extends over the whole left Side of my Face, and under the left Side of my chin— It is swelled to a great Degree. He directed me to apply a carrot Poultice this Evens.
30— The Inflamation is much abated—
31— The Inflamation has nearly subsided. The Doctor says 8 Days will complete the Cure[.]
June 1— As yet the appearance of Suppuration is slight—
5— The Suppuration having come on, this morning the Pimple was found separated from its Bed— the Excavation deep, but scarcely half an Inch in Diameter
7— This morning the Pimple was so loose, as that the Doctr. raised it out of its bed— it adhering only to one side Slightly—
8— The Pimple came out— its Size is that of a large Pea—
16— My face being nearly well— settled with the Doctr. he charged $100— I paid him $125—
20— Set out for Albany by the way of Rye and Bedford—
JJ Medical Diary, 6 May–20 June 1800, D, PC (EJ: 13412).
3. Letter not found.