Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:1590] From: Dr John Heysham / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Thomas Irwin (Irwine, at Moss Side) (Patient), Anonymous (Patient) / 24 November 1778 / (Incoming)

Letter from John Heysham concerning the case of Mr Irwin and mentioning the case of a 'lady' now recovered.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1590
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/680
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date24 November 1778
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Letter from John Heysham concerning the case of Mr Irwin and mentioning the case of a 'lady' now recovered.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:794]
Case of Mr Thomas Irwin [Irwine] who suffers from swollen legs, itchiness and biliousness and which eventually proves fatal.
18
[Case ID:1002]
Case of an unnamed 'young lady' attended by Dr Heysham for Typhus.
3


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:477]AuthorDr John Heysham
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:889]PatientMr Thomas Irwin (Irwine, at Moss Side)
[PERS ID:2281]Patient
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:477]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr John Heysham
[PERS ID:707]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr John Fothergill

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Carlisle North-West England Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Carlisle November 24.th 1778
Dear Sir


Since the receipt of your first letter of
August 12.th Mr Irwin has regularly taken
your Saline mixture at least with
very little intermission. It has in
general agreed with him very well, &
has promoted not only a gentle stool
or two every day but has likewise
made him make water very freely;
in consequence of which the swelling
of his
legs subsided after he had con¬
tinued the use of it a little while.
The itchiness however still continues
& is very troublesome, tho with the
assistance of 8 or 10 drops of L. L. he
is able to rest tolerable well in the
night, & indeed has a tendency to
sleep during the day. About three
weeks ago he received a letter from his
friend Dr Fothergill, who desired
him to try what effect would be pro¬
duced from ℥ſs of Sal. Tart. & a sufficient
quantity of Acid. Vitriol. taken in the
state of effervescnece. He accordingly



[Page 2]

took it 3 or 4 days but it had no effect
upon the itchiness, & as it disordered his
stomach it was omtted, & he has
again had recourse to the saline mix¬
ture
. His present state is as follows.
His strength considerably impaired,
& spirits very much depressed; his
legs for some time past have been
more affected with the œdematous swel¬
ling
than ever they were before,
& the itchiness continues nearly the
same attended with some little erup¬
tion
. He has scarcely any appetite for
solid animal food, & lives chiefly on
Milk, Broths & sometimes ventures on
an Egg; & agreeable to my recommendation
frequently drinks a glass of wine. Thirst
moderate, skin of proper temperature
& moisture, urine natural both in
quantity & quality. Pulse continues
strong
tho it is some what weaker,
& not quite so regular as it was, &
there seems to be a remarkable debility
in the extreme vessels. Upon exposure
to the least cold the blood entirely for¬
sakes his hands & renders them pale
& flaccid. He presents his compliments &
requests you will take the above


[Page 3]

into consideration & return an answer
as soon as convenient.


Permit me now dear Sir to acknowledge
your last kind favour which I shall
remember as long as I have any rembe¬
rance of myself. It gave me great
happiness to find that the method I
had used was approved of by your
superior wisdom & experience. The
lady immediately took the Bark
& the Elix. Citriol & she is now re¬
covered. With compliments to all your
family & with kind wishes for
your health & happiness

I am dear Sir your &c.
John Heysham


P.S. M.r Irwin
begs the favour
that you would
[rend?] the inclosed




[Page 4]


D.r Cullen
Edenburgh


Haysham - Carlisle
C
Mr Irwine
November 1778
9. p. 92.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Carlisle Nov.r 24.th 1778
Dear Sir


Since the rec.t of your first letter of
August 12.th Mr Irwin has regularly taken
your Saline mixture at least with
very little intermission. It has in
general agreed with him very well, &
has promoted not only a gentle stool
or two every day but has likewise
made him make water very freely;
in consequence of which the swelling
of his
legs subsided after he had con¬
tinued the use of it a little while.
The itchiness however still continues
& is very troublesome, tho with the
assistance of 8 or 10 drops of L. L. he
is able to rest tolerable well in the
night, & indeed has a tendency to
sleep during the day. About three
weeks ago he rec. a letter from his
friend Dr Fothergill, who desired
him to try what effect would be pro¬
duced from ℥ſs of Sal. Tart. & a sufficient
quantity of Acid. Vitriol. taken in the
state of effervescnece. He accordingly



[Page 2]

took it 3 or 4 days but it had no effect
upon the itchiness, & as it disordered his
stomach it was omtted, & he has
again had recourse to the saline mix¬
ture
. His present state is as follows.
His strength considerably impaired,
& spirits very much depressed; his
legs for some time past have been
more affected with the œdematous swel¬
ling
than ever they were before,
& the itchiness continues nearly the
same attended with some little erup¬
tion
. He has scarcely any appetite for
solid animal food, & lives chiefly on
Milk, Broths & sometimes ventures on
an Egg; & agreeable to my recommendation
frequently drinks a glass of wine. Thirst
moderate, skin of proper temperature
& moisture, urine natural both in
quantity & quality. Pulse continues
strong
tho it is some what weaker,
& not quite so regular as it was, &
there seems to be a remarkable debility
in the extreme vessels. Upon exposure
to the least cold the blood entirely for¬
sakes his hands & renders them pale
& flaccid. He presents his comp.s &
requests you will take the above


[Page 3]

into consideration & return an answer
as soon as convenient.


Permit me now dear Sir to acknowledge
your last kind favour which I shall
remember as long as I have any rembe¬
rance of myself. It gave me great
happiness to find that the method I
had used was approved of by your
superior wisdom & experience. The
lady immediately took the Bark
& the Elix. Citriol & she is now re¬
covered. With comp.s to all your
family & with kind wishes for
your health & happiness

I am dear Sir your &c.
John Heysham


P.S. M.r Irwin
begs the favour
that you would
[rend?] the inclosed




[Page 4]


D.r Cullen
Edenburgh


Haysham - Carlisle
C
Mr Irwine
Nov.r 1778
9. p. 92.

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