The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1213] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Sir James Murray (Sir James Murray, Bt, of Clermont; 5th or 7th Baronet,) (Patient) / 1768? / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'For Sir James Murray, Bart.', of Clermont. Sir James has been suffering from costiveness. Cullen gives directions and prescriptions. Some pen-practice. Patient is either the 5th Baronet (d. Feb 1769) or his great-nephew, the 7th Baronet, who inherited as a teenager in 1771. The former seems more probable, as the latter was often abroad in the early 1770s before going on campaign to America, and the ailment and treatment seem more fitted to an elderly person.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
[Page 4]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1213 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/313 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 1768? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply, 'For Sir James Murray, Bart.', of Clermont. Sir James has been suffering from costiveness. Cullen gives directions and prescriptions. Some pen-practice. Patient is either the 5th Baronet (d. Feb 1769) or his great-nephew, the 7th Baronet, who inherited as a teenager in 1771. The former seems more probable, as the latter was often abroad in the early 1770s before going on campaign to America, and the ailment and treatment seem more fitted to an elderly person. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:107] |
Case of Sir James Murray of Clermont who has been costive. No date. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1375] | Patient | Sir James Murray (Sir James Murray, Bt, of Clermont; 5th or 7th Baronet,) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For
Sir James Murray, Bart.
Having carefully considered the whole of Sir
James’s complaints I am of opinion that they
all depend upon the slowness of his belly which
formerly contracted by a bad habit is (↑has↑) now produ¬
ced an insensibility & weakness of the bowels which (↑[&?]
this↑) as usual has produced several other inconvenienc¬
ies.
The whole I think must be cured by taking
pains for some time to procure regular stools
& at the same time by employing some
remedies to recover the tone of the Intes¬
tines that in time they may come to do
their own duty.
For the first I have ordered below two
different laxatives the one to bee employed
in case the other should fail either at first
or by repetition afterwards.
The first to be tryed is an oil to be
taken in the morning in the dose of a table
spoonfull or two. It should give one stool
& no more & if it either does less or more the
[Page 2]
dose is to be encreased or diminished. It is
not to be taken every day but every second
or third day as the event of stools may re¬
quire & in this way continued till his stools
are more regular & happen at least once in two days.
In case this should not answer in a
moderate dose or if by repetition growing
familiar it fails I have ordered the other
laxative which is Pills to be taken in one two
or three for a dose at bedtime & that in the
same manner as with respect to the oil
more or less frequently as occasion may re¬
quire.
For recovering the tone of the Intes¬
tines I have ordered below an Electuary
which is to be taken to the bulk of a nutmeg
twice a day on those days he does not take
a laxative. It will be most conveniently
taken in a wafer & may be taken either
in the morning before breakfast or any
time in the forenoon & again towards
the Evening an hour at least before supper.
[Page 3]
With these medicines it will be proper
to give some attention to diet & it will be best
directed by his own observation finding out
what is more or less favourable to his having
what is more or less favourable to his having
stools for the same things have different
effects in different persons. In the mean time
I shall give my opinion, that Roots & Greens
as cold & flatulent foods are likely to be un¬
favourable; that most kinds of pudding
pancake & baked paste will more certainly
prove so; that broth & soup & therefore to be
avoided. That broth & soup will be favou¬
rable & should be frequently taken. Fruit
is uncertain but probably will be favourable.
For drink plain water or Toast water
are to be avoided. Beer is more favourable
but in case it should prove windy on the
stomach wine & water must be employed
& white wine rather than red. Porter is
the safest of Malt liquors & taken moderately
may be useful.
[Page 4]
For Sir J.M. Bart.
Take eight ounces of freshly pressed castor Oil and 2 ounces of strong Sugar Spirit, commonly called Rum. Mix. Label: Laxative oil a tablespoonfull or two for a dose, taking care to shake the viol very well before pouring it out.
Take a drachm each of socotrine Aloes and Gentian Extract, 15 grains of Steel Salts and enough common Syrup to make a mass to be divided into pills of 5 grains each. Label: Laxative Pills one 2 or 3 for a dose at bed time.
Take an ounce of Powdered Peruvian Bark, 2 drachms of Powdered Columbo Root, a drachm of Steel Salts, an ounce of Orange Peel conserve, and enough common Syrup to make an Electuary. Label: Strengthening Electuary the bigness of a nutmeg to be taken twice a day.
Diplomatic Text
For
Sir James Murray, Bart.
Having carefully considered the whole of Sir
James’s complaints I am of opinion that they
all depend upon the slowness of his belly which
formerly contracted by a bad habit is (↑has↑) now produ¬
ced an insensibility & weakness of the bowels wc (↑[&?]
this↑) as usual has produced several other inconvenienc¬
ies.
The whole I think must be cured by taking
pains for some time to procure regular stools
& at the same time by employing some
remedies to recover the tone of the Intes¬
tines that in time they may come to do
their own duty.
For the first I have ordered below two
different laxatives the one to bee employed
in case the other should fail either at first
or by repetition afterwards.
The first to be tryed is an oil to be
taken in the morning in the dose of a table
spoonfull or two. It should give one stool
& no more & if it either does less or more the
[Page 2]
dose is to be encreased or diminished. It is
not to be taken every day but every second
or third day as the event of stools may re¬
quire & in this way continued till his stools
are more regular & happen at least once in two days.
In case this should not answer in a
moderate dose or if by repetition growing
familiar it fails I have ordered the other
laxative wc is Pills to be taken in one two
or three for a dose at bedtime & that in the
same manner as with respect to the oil
more or less frequently as occasion may re¬
quire.
For recovering the tone of the Intes¬
tines I have ordered below an Electuary
wc is to be taken to the bulk of a nutmeg
twice a day on those days he does not take
a laxative. It will be most conveniently
taken in a wafer & may be taken either
in the morning before breakfast or any
time in the forenoon & again towards
the Evening an hour at least before supper.
[Page 3]
With these medicines it will be proper
to give some attention to diet & it will be best
directed by his own observation finding out
what is more or less favourable to his having
what is more or less favourable to his having
stools for the same things have different
effects in different persons. In the mean time
I shall give my opinion, that Roots & Greens
as cold & flatulent foods are likely to be un¬
favourable; that most kinds of pudding
pancake & baked paste will more certainly
prove so; that broth & soup & therefore to be
avoided. That broth & soup will be favou¬
rable & should be frequently taken. Fruit
is uncertain but probably will be favourable.
For drink plain water or Toast water
are to be avoided. Beer is more favourable
but in case it should prove windy on the
stomach wine & water must be employed
& white wine rather than red. Porter is
the safest of Malt liquors & taken moderately
may be useful.
[Page 4]
For Sir J.M. Bart.
℞ Ole. ricin. recens express. ℥viii
Sp. Sacchar. fort. vulgo Rum dict. ℥ii
ℳ. Signa Laxative oil a tablespoonfull
or two for a dose, taking care to shake the
viol very well before pouring it out.
℞ Aloes. soctorin. ʒi
Extract. Gentian. @ ʒi
Sal. Mart. gr. XV
Syrup comm. q. s. ut f. massa divi¬
denda in Pil. sing. gr. v.
Signa Laxative Pills one 2 or 3 for a dose
at bed time.
℞ Pulv. Cort. Peruv. ℥i
R. --- Rad. Colomb. ʒii
Sal. Mart. ʒi
Conserv. e cort. aurantior. ℥i
Syrup comm. q. s. ut f. Electuar.
Signa Strengthening Elect. the bigness of
a nutmeg to be taken twice a day.
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