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Title:
Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, Annie Moore Southgate, Mattie Logan Southgate, James Haywood Southgate, and Lessie Muse Southgate, September 23, 1883: Electronic Edition.
Author:
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Southgate, Delia Haywood Wynne
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Southgate, Annie
Simmons, Celestia Muse Southgate
Funder:
Funding by the Institute of Museum of Library Services (IMLS) and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), with support provided through North Carolina ECHO.
Transcription Information:
Text transcribed by: Kelly Clark
Images scanned by: Digital Production Center
Text encoded by: Katherine M. Wisser
Transcription Edition:
Edition: First edition,
Date: 2006
Publication Information:
Publisher: Duke University Libraries
Date: 2006
Availability: ©This work is the property of the Duke University Libraries. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
Source Information:
Title: Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, Annie Moore Southgate, Mattie Logan Southgate, James Haywood Southgate, and Lessie Muse Southgate, September 23, 1883
Author: James Southgate
Date: 18830923
Note: James Southgate writes his wife, children and sister, about the inclement weather in Richmond and the medical treatment he receives there. He remarks about his weight loss and relates the different theories that his physicians, his sister Sarah Raboteau and his cousin Augusta Christian have about treating "feeble digestion" or "Dyspepsia." He shares details of his medical regimen and the effects of the medications on his mouth. While watching church goers in the rainy streets of Richmond, James ruminates on the weather's effect on religious practice. James expresses his wish to visit his relations in eastern Virginia with his physician's approval. He responds to news from his family about Grandma Zack and Ed Sym and notes that he dined on oysters.
P: James Southgate papers, 1794-1944 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Class: Durham (N.C.) -- History
Class: Diet -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Class: Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Class: Christian, Augusta
Class: Religion -- North Carolina -- 19th century
Class: Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Class: Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Class: Raboteau, Sarah Ann Wynne, 1816-1895
Class: Family -- North Carolina -- History
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions -- History -- 19th century
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood
Class: Southgate, Annie
Class: Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Class: Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Class: Sym, Ed
Class: Grandma Zack
Class: Southgate, Lessie
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood
Class: Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate, b. 1865
Class: Southgate, Annie
Class: Asheville (N.C.)
Class: Durham (N.C.)
Class: Richmond (Va.)
Class: Wilmington (N.C.)

Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Durham (N.C.) -- History
Diet -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Christian, Augusta
Religion -- North Carolina -- 19th century
Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Raboteau, Sarah Ann Wynne, 1816-1895
Family -- North Carolina -- History
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions -- History -- 19th century
Southgate, Delia Haywood
Southgate, Annie
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Sym, Ed
Grandma Zack
Southgate, Lessie
Southgate, Delia Haywood
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate, b. 1865
Southgate, Annie
Asheville (N.C.)
Durham (N.C.)
Richmond (Va.)
Wilmington (N.C.)

I could for one dollar take a boat here on some Saturday run down to Norfolk, spend Sunday with Tom and return here Monday, have a delightful trip down James River and eat Sorat oysters all the route ("root") I have nothing else to do but build air castles like Mattie + Kate Sanbom used to do, and there is no harm in having these pleasant day dreams should they never be realized- It is not so very nice to be shut up in a room to one's self where he is isolated almost as though he were on an island like Robinson Crusoe. I do not know a single patient in the house. I see the Dr of the house about twice a day + then it is only to ask the same question "How do you feel today" Is your medicine out yet? + and such gab as that- Very few friends call now because they have seen me on the street once or twice + conclude I am well enough to take care of myself + so I am- Any how, that leaves me monarch of all I survey in my own room. My tongue is sore yet though I use carbolic mouth wash and chlorate of Potash through the day and a portion of the night. My gums are better though not entirely recovered from the salivation- This sore mouth really keeps me back as the Dr seems to be waiting to give me other remedies, but cannot risk them while my mouth is in this condition. I received a very pleasant letter yesterday from Mr White- He sympathizes with me, admonishes me to be prudent +c +c- Wonder if he [dont?] think I have as much interest in being prudent as any one else can possibly. Munson of Wilmington also has written me a very nice letter and desired to be remembered to all of you when I wrote, and I now send his greetings. I am surprised to hear that Grandma Zack has at last succeeded in taking the old man Zack with her to Wilmington. That is quite a Triumph for the old lady. I think this is his first trip with her to that place since they have been married. I have not received an answer to the letter I wrote her + presume she had left town before it reached her. I hope Ed Sym continues to improve. He has trouble exactly opposite to mine + requires different treatment. I have written up my sheet and am about to cross this page but I know Old oman will object because it is hard enough for her to read straight lines plainly written since her eyesight is so bad- but postage stamps are a consideration and she must make some of the younger ones read this for her- I can see Sallie Raboteau with [mop? moss?] in mouth trudging along through one of [her] brother's letters and wishing all the time he would write a larger and plainer hand. If all the rest fail to make it out hand once to Jimmie who says he can read every word I write. Tell him "Cris" my body guard has left- He went off Thursday night promising to be back next morning, but he has not put in an appearance since. Dr Wheat has hired a white man to take his place- He is a German and says he has had much experience in army hospitals. He is pretty attentive but you cant do with him exactly as we did with "Cris." guess Cris is off to get ready for the opening of the session at the Medical College 1st October. I put up my pen at this point awaiting the coming of the D^r, but he has not yet arrived, so I will finish up this and when the boy goes for mail at 4 oclock he can take this + be sure of its going out tonight as Sunday, its mails are uncertain. Mr Jno D Gordon the Insurance man come in at ¼ past 1 just I had whetted my appetite for oysters and stayed till ¼ past 3- He was'nt out of sight before 7 good fats ones were on the way down my throat- I enjoyed them as I always do good ones. I am on my second box of Granum and hope by [the] time I finish that I will be able to take more substantial diet. I will write fully tomorrow what the Dr has to say when he comes today. I think you cant [sic] complain that I have not written enough lately. My letters are too long for any one- Especially as they amount to so little after all. I shall expect an answer to this from every member of the household even enchanting Kate- I can only subscribe myself

"papa"

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