Letter from J. D. to Jn Mᵉ Frachon (1838)

NRA-L-000525 / 1838

Letter from J. D. to Jn Mᵉ Frachon, 1838-03-28

J. D. reports that the recipient's father's improvement is holding, describes his cough, pulse, tongue, blister treatments and poppy-head decoction, and asks that the details be shared with cousin Duret.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000525

NRA-L-000525 image 1 showing a folded address panel to a Frachon correspondent with postal marks, routing notes, seals and visible folds. — **Image 1**Address panel, postal evidence and retained annotations.

NRA-L-000525 image 2 showing a handwritten French letter continuation with closing, signature, later notes, folds and paper edges. — **Image 2**Letter text and closing.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000525
Date: 1838-03-28
Original date: Tournon 28 Mars 1838
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: J. D.
Recipient: Jn Mᵉ Frachon
Places: Tournon / Annonay
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; 2 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000525.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
chez Mᵉ Teste & Chomel
Annonay
ardèche

Address panel

English translation

Monsieur
Jn Mᵉ Frachon
chez Mᵉ Teste & Chomel
Annonay
ardèche

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Tournon 28 mars 1838

Mon cher J. M., mon fils ne t'écrivant pas bien vite, [je te donne moi-même des nouvelles]. L'état de ton père est toujours à peu près le même, c'est-à-dire que le mieux se soutient. Cette nuit il a un peu dormi; je trouve qu'il tousse moins et crache avec plus de facilité. M. Molière, qui l'a vu ce matin, lui a trouvé le pouls bon et la langue bien, mais pourtant encore un peu de rougeur sur le bout de la langue.

[Une douleur ou irritation] sur le côté droit de la poitrine a décidé M. Molière à mettre [un traitement] sur le vésicatoire au bras; les vésicatoires aux jambes sont toujours très rouges. Hier soir, pour faciliter le sommeil, on lui fit prendre une légère décoction de têtes de pavot.

J'entre dans beaucoup de détails, te demandant d'en faire part à mon cousin Duret, qui a la bonté de prendre le plus tendre intérêt. Nous avons la satisfaction de voir que les conseils qu'il indiquait concordent avec ce que M. Molière approuve et lui fait faire. Ce dernier nous a promis de revenir demain ou après-demain.

[Dernier paragraphe familial partiellement illisible.] Adieu, mon cher J. M.; nous vous embrassons tous de tout notre cœur.

J. D.

Documentary page 2

English translation

Tournon, 28 March 1838

My dear J. M., since my son is not writing to you promptly, [I am giving you the news myself]. Your father's condition remains much the same, that is, the improvement is holding. He slept a little last night; I find that he coughs less and expectorates more easily. Mr Molière, who saw him this morning, found his pulse and tongue satisfactory, though the tip of his tongue is still slightly red.

[Pain or irritation] on the right side of his chest led Mr Molière to apply [a treatment] to the blister on his arm; the blisters on his legs remain very red. Last night, to help him sleep, he was given a light decoction of poppy heads.

I give you so much detail because I ask you to share it with my cousin Duret, who is kind enough to take the tenderest interest. We have the satisfaction of seeing that the advice he gave agrees with what Mr Molière approves and has done. The latter has promised to return tomorrow or the day after.

[The final family paragraph is partly illegible.] Farewell, my dear J. M.; we all embrace you with all our hearts.

J. D.

Discovery Terms

Family health
Medical treatment
Correspondence
Frachon Family Correspondence

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