The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2284] From: Dr James Hamilton / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr Alexander? Drysdale (Patient) / 15 July 1783 / (Incoming)
Letter from James Hamilton concerning the case of Mr Drysdale, who was accompanied to his visit to Cullen by his brother John, who is a doctor or surgeon. He coughs up purulent matter and blood, and his breath smells offensive. Hamilton intends to treat him with Cicuta and Mercury.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2284 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1342 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 15 July 1783 |
| 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 James Hamilton concerning the case of Mr Drysdale, who was accompanied to his visit to Cullen by his brother John, who is a doctor or surgeon. He coughs up purulent matter and blood, and his breath smells offensive. Hamilton intends to treat him with Cicuta and Mercury. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:648] |
Case of Mr Drysdale declining from a feverish chest complaint and 'a putrid ulcer in his chest'. |
7 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:812] | Author | Dr James Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3001] | Patient | Mr Alexander? Drysdale |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:812] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr James Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:3003] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr John Drysdale (of Ruchlaw House, East Lothian) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Dunbar | Borders | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Writing | Haddington | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
This accompanys a particular friend
of mine Mr Drysdale of this town, who has
been for some time in ↑a↑ declining way. His Brother
who goes with Him, is of our profession, and
will will tell you the beginning of his disease.
When I saw Him, He was much distressed had
repeated shiverings, a severe cough, stricture
across his breast, difficulty in breathing &
his pulse contracted quick, & hard, with a
copious expectoration of purulent matter, very
offensive and frequently tinged with blood, &
repeatedly spitt blood in pretty large quantitys.
he was directly put upon a vegetable and
milk diet, restricted from all heating liquors.
repeatedly blooded, his Blood ever sizy, and
took large doses of [Nitre?] with Rose Conserve
he has shifted the air different times, has ↑had↑ ass
milk goat whey &c, & yet the disease
[Page 2]
seems to increase. It will afford all his friends,
particularly his Brother & myself much
satisfaction at having your advice, we talked
together this day about his situation. I
proposed the following things, which Mr
John Drysdale approved, & which I beg
leave to lay before you –––– As He has
an ulcer in his breast, and of a very putrid
offensive nature, that He should take one
grain of the extract of Hemlock twice each day,
with which is mixed one sixth part of a
grain of mercury, to take also two table
spoonfuls of an infusion of the red Bark
four times a day, to have a seton put in
his side, to take a jaunt in a Carriage,
to continue the milk fruit & vegetable diet,
& to drink seltzer water. The reason why
I have mentioned the extract of Cicuta & Mercury
is, as it is the best method of healing an ulcer
when external, especially when the Bark is
[Page 3]
added, so I judge it the most likely way to heal
an internal sore, especially in the advanced
state, that my friend's complaints are in ––
but I shall be directed by you, & wishing
that the Almighty, who giveth unto Man
understanding, may direct you to order such
things as may prove effectual, and further
wishing you {illeg} his favour. I am
& most obedient servant
July 15th 1783
Hadinton 16 July. I have just seen my patient
at this place on his way to you. I am sorry
to find Him worse and the smell of his Breath
when He coughs exceedingly offensive. His pulse
nearly one hundred
will not a sea voyage be useful
[Page 4]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
Mr Drysdale
July 1783.
V. XV p. 146.
Diplomatic Text
This accompanys a particular friend
of mine Mr Drysdale of this town, who has
been for some time in ↑a↑ declining way. His Brother
who goes with Him, is of our profession, and
will will tell you the beginning of his disease.
When I saw Him, He was much distressed had
repeated shiverings, a severe cough, stricture
across his breast, difficulty in breathing &
his pulse contracted quick, & hard, with a
copious expectoration of purulent matter, very
offensive and frequently tinged with blood, &
repeatedly spitt blood in pretty large quantitys.
he was directly put upon a vegetable and
milk diet, restricted from all heating liquors.
repeatedly blooded, his Blood ever sizy, and
took large doses of [Nitre?] with Cons: Rosar.
he has shifted the air different times, has ↑had↑ ass
milk goat whey &c, & yet the disease
[Page 2]
seems to increase. It will afford all his friends,
particularly his Brother & myself much
satisfaction at having your advice, we talked
together this day about his situation. I
proposed the following things, which Mr
John Drysdale approved, & which I beg
leave to lay before you –––– As He has
an ulcer in his breast, and of a very putrid
offensive nature, that He should take one
grain of the extract of Hemlock twice each day,
with which is mixed one sixth part of a
grain of mercury, to take also two table
spoonfuls of an infusion of the red Bark
four times a day, to have a seton put in
his side, to take a jaunt in a Carriage,
to continue the milk fruit & vegetable diet,
& to drink seltzer water. The reason why
I have mentioned the extract Cicut & Mercury
is, as it is the best method of healing an ulcer
when external, especially when the Bark is
[Page 3]
added, so I judge it the most likely way to heal
an internal sore, especially in the advanced
state, that my friend's complaints are in ––
but I shall be directed by you, & wishing
that the Almighty, who giveth unto Man
understanding, may direct you to order such
things as may prove effectual, and further
wishing you {illeg} his favour. I am
& most obedt. servt.
July 15th 1783
Hadinton 16 July. I have just seen my patient
at this place on his way to you. I am sorry
to find Him worse and the smell of his Breath
when He coughs exceedingly offensive. His pulse
nearly one hundred
will not a sea voyage be useful
[Page 4]
Doctor William Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh
Mr Drysdale
July 1783.
V. XV p. 146.
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