January 4 1812: Martha Ballard

 On January 4, 1812, a saturday, Martha Ballard wrote on her diary:

Snowd, Cleard a way at Evng. I was Calld to See mr Firbeshes infant, it has a very bad Cold and is Costive. we administred a Clistar which gave relief. I returnd home about Sun Set. I washt my husband A Shirt after.   

at mr Firbishes. 

A "clistar" may mean that Martha administered an enema to the infant. "Costive" may indicate the infant was also constipated.

The transcription above is again taken form the website dohistory. The transcription of the diary is the work of Robert R. McCausland and Cynthia MacAlman McCausland.


For more on Martha Ballard see here and here.