The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1403] From: Sir James Dunbar (of Mochrum, 3rd Bt.) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Sir James Dunbar (of Mochrum, 3rd Bt.) (Patient) / 6 May 1777 / (Incoming)
Letter from Sir James Dunbar, regarding his own case.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 1403 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/499 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 6 May 1777 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Sir James Dunbar, regarding his own case. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:613] |
Case of Sir James Dunbar with gravel and a pain in the back. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1888] | Author | Sir James Dunbar (of Mochrum, 3rd Bt.) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1888] | Patient | Sir James Dunbar (of Mochrum, 3rd Bt.) |
| [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 | Dunbar House | Woodside | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Falkirk | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
Dunbar House 6th May 1777
Dear Sir
As by some accident I did not receive
your letter of the 19th last Month, till tuesday the 22d,
I did not get all the materials ready till Saturday sev'n
night the 26th. The Anodyne Oil seems to be right
enough. I begun with the soap & lime water as you
direct, taking of the former at two separate times, about
a quarter of an ounce a day, & of the latter in like
manner a Mutchkin a day, but as I am now more
reconcil'd to them, I take of the soap above half an
ounce a day, and of the lime water seldom more than
a Mutchkin. If it were proper to drink it with my
victuals ↑also,↑ I could take more of it. I have never had
more than one stool a day since I begun with them,
but I have never yet observd sand coming from me
as formerly, before I had that pain in my back last November,
which I Imagine kept me free of pain, so that I suspect
the sand is concreted and concreting. I rub with the Oil
twice a day, always heating the vial before I use the Oil,
but still I do not find myself altogether tight & sound
in the back, tho the pain is very bearable, and as it cer¬
tainly proceeds from gravel - at least, I cannot see how an
external application can be of service in removing it
or keeping the part affected, warm with flannel, as I do.
When I am quite in health, and free of any pain there
I never choose to have my back kept warm, as it rather
weakens. I take the Soap & lime water sometime before
Breakfast, & some time after it about an hour or two,
and as I do not sup commonly, again immediately before
I go to bed, or sometimes an hour sooner, from after
[Page 2]
tea time in the Afternoon till bed time I used to
drink a bottle of Porter, but as in some part of that
time I take my soap & lime water, I have been ↑more↑ shy
in using the Porter, lest it might hurt their operation
you mention'd nothing about Meat or Drink, what
might agree or disagree with the Soap or lime water,
I have kept regularly by them when at home, but
have not & so much in my power to do so when
elsewhere, but have always taken them once a day
since I begun. I thought it needless to trouble you
with an account how Matters were going on, untill
I had made some trial, and I cannot say I have
felt any sensible effects as yet of the operation of
what I am using, perhaps it is out of their power to
cause any, and indeed, unless in particular cases, I am
affraid it is scarce in the power of any [thing?] that
one can use or take, to be of essential service in
this sort of Oil: but here Doctor I must stop
short, and ask your pardon, & leave it to you to decide
in this Matter, to whom I have applied for aid.
I shall therefore conclude, by assuring you, that with
a real esteem and confidence in your abilities
as a Physician, and in the goodness & integrity
of your Heart as a Man & Worthy Member of
society
I am
Dear Sir
your Most Obedient Humble Servant
I sometimes take a Dram when I feel rawness
or cold in my stomach. How does that agree Doctor
with Lime & Soap?
[Page 3]
Doctor Cullen
Physician in
Edinburgh
Sir James Dunbar
6th May. 1777
Vol. VII p.22
Diplomatic Text
Dunbar House 6th May 1777
Dear Sir
As by some accident I did not receive
your letter of the 19th last Month, till tuesday the 22d,
I did not get all the materials ready till Saturday sev'n
night the 26th. The Anodyne Oil seems to be right
enough. I begun with the soap & lime water as you
direct, taking of the former at two separate times, about
a quarter of an ounce a day, & of the latter in like
manner a Mutchkin a day, but as I am now more
reconcil'd to them, I take of the soap above half an
ounce a day, and of the lime water seldom more than
a Mutchkin. If it were proper to drink it with my
victuals ↑also,↑ I could take more of it. I have never had
more than one stool a day since I begun with them,
but I have never yet observd sand coming from me
as formerly, before I had that pain in my back last novbr,
which I Imagine kept me free of pain, so that I suspect
the sand is concreted and concreting. I rub with the Oil
twice a day, always heating the vial before I use the Oil,
but still I do not find myself altogether tight & sound
in the back, tho the pain is very bearable, and as it cer¬
tainly proceeds from gravel - at least, I cannot see how an
external application can be of service in removing it
or keeping the part affected, warm with flannel, as I do.
When I am quite in health, and free of any pain there
I never choose to have my back kept warm, as it rather
weakens. I take the Soap & lime water sometime before
Breakfast, & some time after it about an hour or two,
and as I do not sup commonly, again immediately before
I go to bed, or sometimes an hour sooner, from after
[Page 2]
tea time in the Afternoon till bed time I used to
drink a bottle of Porter, but as in some part of that
time I take my soap & lime water, I have been ↑more↑ shy
in using the Porter, lest it might hurt their operation
you mention'd nothing about Meat or Drink, what
might agree or disagree with the Soap or lime water,
I have kept regularly by them when at home, but
have not & so much in my power to do so when
elsewhere, but have always taken them once a day
since I begun. I thought it needless to trouble you
with an account how Matters were going on, untill
I had made some trial, and I cannot say I have
felt any sensible effects as yet of the operation of
what I am using, perhaps it is out of their power to
cause any, and indeed, unless in particular cases, I am
affraid it is scarce in the power of any [thing?] that
one can use or take, to be of essential service in
this sort of Oil: but here Doctor I must stop
short, and ask your pardon, & leave it to you to decide
in this Matter, to whom I have applied for aid.
I shall therefore conclude, by assuring you, that with
a real esteem and confidence in your abilities
as a Physician, and in the goodness & integrity
of your Heart as a Man & Worthy Member of
society
I am
Dear Sir
your Most Obedt Humble Servant
I sometimes take a Dram when I feel rawness
or cold in my stomach. How does that agree Doctor
with Lime & Soap?
[Page 3]
Doctor Cullen
Physician in
Edinr
Sir James Dunbar
6th May. 1777
Vol. VII p.22
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