BIB_ID
428240
Accession number
MA 9781.14
Creator
Bricka, Hélène, 1847-1914.
Display Date
London, England, 1897 May 4.
Credit line
Gift of Patricia S. Baldwin, 2018.
Description
1 item (4 pages) ; 17.7 x 11.4 cm + envelope
Notes
This letter is part of a collection of letters from the Duke and Duchess of Teck, Mary of Teck and two members of their Royal Household, Hélène Bricka and A. Nelson Hood to Dr. William Wilberforce Baldwin. See the collection record for more information.
Written from "White Lodge, Richmond Park" on stationery engraved with the address.
Miss Bricka addresses this letter to Dr. Baldwin as "Dr. Balwin."
Envelope with postage and postmarks to "Dr. Baldwin / Villa Rubini / Florence / Italy."
Year of writing from postmark.
In this letter Miss Bricka refers to writing to Dr. Baldwin "on Thursday". Miss Bricka wrote to Dr. Baldwin twice on Thursday, April 29th. The first letter was dictated to her by the Duchess (MA 9781.2) and the second letter was written later that evening by Miss Bricka and describes how ill the Duchess is with "pains in her stomach and no medicine." The second letter is incomplete and unsigned. (MA 3564, Bricka, Helene).
Written from "White Lodge, Richmond Park" on stationery engraved with the address.
Miss Bricka addresses this letter to Dr. Baldwin as "Dr. Balwin."
Envelope with postage and postmarks to "Dr. Baldwin / Villa Rubini / Florence / Italy."
Year of writing from postmark.
In this letter Miss Bricka refers to writing to Dr. Baldwin "on Thursday". Miss Bricka wrote to Dr. Baldwin twice on Thursday, April 29th. The first letter was dictated to her by the Duchess (MA 9781.2) and the second letter was written later that evening by Miss Bricka and describes how ill the Duchess is with "pains in her stomach and no medicine." The second letter is incomplete and unsigned. (MA 3564, Bricka, Helene).
Provenance
Dr. William W. Baldwin; his grandson Nicholas Baldwin; Patricia S. Baldwin.
Summary
Concerning emergency surgery on the Duchess; saying "I wonder if the Duke has written to you? he asked for your address only he is so distracted that I don't think he was able to write. You must know by now how ill our beloved Princess has been & that there was the most urgent need for an operation. I am happy to say that she is as well as can be expected. Today is the 4th day & the doctor's are very pleased with her progress. I wrote to you on Thursday & told you that we thought she had an bilious attack. Friday H.R.H. felt better but Dr. Wadd was not pleased & sent for Dr. Allingham in the afternoon; he (A.) thought that an operation was urgent (her old trouble was cause of the mischief - I think it was what we call in french une Hernie etranglée. Allingham went off to find either Lord Lister or Mr. Tom Smith. He found the last & they both arrived 9. evening with a nurse. After a long consultation an operation was considered urgent & it was done about 10.15 Friday night. H.R.H. was so brave when she was told! so quiet; braver than I was - for I thought my heart would burst. I had such palpitations. At 11.30 Dr. Wadd came & told us that it was well done & H.R.H. was coming to herself. She asked at once for the Duke & Prince Dolly [Prince Adolphus of Teck] & made some funny remark, & made them laugh. She has been progressing favourably ever since & the Drs are very pleased. Dr. Wadd & his son, who is house surgeon in the great N. Hospital, are in continual attendance, also 2 nurses from the same hospital (so it is well represented). The Duke is in a very poor state. I pity him & yet feel angry with him. He won't allow them to prevent him going into her room whenever he likes. Sometimes he goes in & storms about a picture or some other stupid thing - is angry if the Drs say that H.R.H. is as well as possible, says to everyone that she is in great danger. Poor Man. Our next trouble will be with him. The Duchess of York knows nothing yet, but I suppose she will have to be told soon? What a chance that would have been for our friend Mr. O'Callaghan & yet I wonder if Dr. Wadd would have called him in (He is a great friend of Allingham). I am so sorry O'Callaghan was not consulted for now there seems to me more & more difficulty to be ever appointed to the Household - Are you coming over this year? Please give my love to Mr. & Mrs. O'Callaghan. I often think of you all & long to hear how O'C. is getting on."
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