Dantiscus has instructed his chancellor [Johann Lehmann] to proceed from the diet of Royal Prussia in Graudenz (Grudziądz), where he had sent him, directly to Gdańsk (Danzig). Once there, he was to consult the addressee, who is known to Dantiscus for his knowledge and experience in the field of medicine, regarding the state of his health and methods of treatment.

Lehmann returned to Dantiscus on the previous day, conveying the addressee’s opinion, which had been drafted despite his indisposition. Dantiscus expresses his gratitude for this. He was highly pleased with the addressee’s advice. In Dantiscus’ view, the addressee has diagnosed the cause of the illness almost fully, since he can see the symptoms in his own case.

Dantiscus intends to follow the prescribed treatment upon obtaining a more detailed opinion from the addressee, based on information regarding the state of his health, being sent along with the letter. The present messenger will convey the recommendations back to Dantiscus. He asks for further instructions on how to recover his health, in particular for a clarification of the rules for using the grains mentioned in the advice. Furthermore, he inquires whether the consumption of sugared ginger is advisable for him.

He promises to reward the addressee handsomely for the efforts involved in his treatment. He wishes for him to visit him without delay, so that he may personally examine and attend to him.

He encloses with the letter a booklet of hymns [an edition of his own Hymni aliquot ecclesiastici], which has been delivered to him from Cracow. He hopes that it will meet with the addressee’s approval on account of its pious content.

In the attachment, Dantiscus describes his ailments.

Six years ago in Cracow, he was confined to his bed with an illness for many days, and went back without having fully recovered. On his return journey, he fell ill with diarrhoea, which significantly weakened him over two nights. The ailment partially subsided, yet it kept recurring.

He applied remedies to bind the bowels, but he developed a scrotal hernia as a result. Since then, he has been carrying his swollen scrotum suspended under his belly to facilitate walking.

In accordance with the physician’s recommendation, he has been adding coarsely ground galangal to his food to prevent the sudden bowel movements, which have also been occurring to him recently. This diet has led to significant abdominal distension, which has swollen to a size comparable to that of a pregnant woman. Furthermore, his legs are swollen, too. While this does not prevent him from being able to walk, the swelling makes it difficult to stretch his legs fully. Dantiscus is feeling weak: although he has no headaches, he feels drowsy almost constantly.

He presents the diet he had followed prior to obtaining advice from the addressee. In order not to obstruct bowel movements, he consumed liquid or soft meals in the forenoon or at midday. The basis of his diet consisted primarily of warmed beer with the addition of crumbled wheat bread and butter or clear olive oil from Venice, or a very thin oatmeal gruel mixed with eggs. Furthermore, he consumed soft-boiled eggs, meat, and small fish at those times which are conducive to digestion, provided that no nausea occurred.

He does not consume wine, which his stomach does not tolerate. He takes small quantities of beer (one or two sips) and water with the addition of cinnamon or sugar, or boiled with three small portions of galangal. Sometimes he combines this drink with beer in order to reduce the risk of sudden bowel movements and to fortify the digestive system.

He does not experience increased thirst, however his mouth feels dry both during the day and at night. He is unable to provide information regarding his urine because collecting it has been difficult.

He asks the addressee for recommendations on nutrition and the induction of sweating based on the information provided. He sends five Hungarian gold florins minted in Gdańsk. The rest will be communicated by letter.

In a postscript, Dantiscus states that he usually excretes more nourishment than he consumes, and the frequent bowel movements weaken him more than his other ailments. Given his abdominal distension, he fears that an attempt at inhibiting the functioning of the digestive system could lead to undesirable consequences.