Cullen

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

 

[ID:2332] From: Colonel George Clerk (Clarke, Clark) / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Colonel George Clerk (Clarke, Clark) (Patient) / 6 October 1783 / (Incoming)

'Memorandum from Col Clerk to Dr Cullen', concerning his own case. The Colonel is still suffering much from costiveness, which he attributes to 'a weakness in the Rectum', urinary problems, general weakness, and respiratory problems. He seeks Cullen's advice on whether he should spend the winter in Bath. The markings on the third image may be simply a print from wet ink on the other side making contact.

Facsimile

There are 3 images for this document.

[Page 1]


 

[Page 2]


 

[Page 3]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 2332
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/1389
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date6 October 1783
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary 'Memorandum from Col Clerk to Dr Cullen', concerning his own case. The Colonel is still suffering much from costiveness, which he attributes to 'a weakness in the Rectum', urinary problems, general weakness, and respiratory problems. He seeks Cullen's advice on whether he should spend the winter in Bath. The markings on the third image may be simply a print from wet ink on the other side making contact.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:1473]
Case of Colonel George Clerk [Clark, Clarke, Clerke] who becomes excessively weak and feeble from chronic costiveness, breathlessness, and other chronic complaints. In New York he has a perpetual fever and stomach complaint and mentions consulting Cullen before but no firm evidence traced unless he is the same patient as Case 283 in 1768.
24


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:2507]AuthorColonel George Clerk (Clarke, Clark)
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:2507]PatientColonel George Clerk (Clarke, Clark)
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Rooks Nest Godstone London and South-East England Europe certain
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe inferred
Therapeutic Recommendation Bath South-West England Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Europe certain
Mentioned / Other England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Memorandum from Col Clerk to Dr Cullen –
Rooks Nest 6th October 1783


That the obstinate costiveness continue upon
him – without the least abatement – That he never
has the smallest inclination for Passage in
his
Belly
but when he takes medicine for that purpose
which he does every three four or five days – and
then it is with difficulty often that it comes away
not from a hardness of the Fæces – but as he thinks
from a weakness in the Rectum – and with evacu–
ations it is attended with great feebleness and
weakness – thro' his whole Body


That he has great difficulty and pain in making
water
– especially before he goes to stool the pain
mostly at the point of the Penis – and stops during
making with much uneasiness.


That he is attacked very frequently since he came
last from abroad with violent Headachs, not
owing to his costiveness – as it is the same when
his Belly is opened with medicine it is most
frequent when he is exposed to East wind – that
it now takes more Oil &other Medicine to open
him than formerly –


That sense of fulness and oppression in
his Bowels very frequent even when he has
no appetite
and is hungry – that eating dont better
it – and with it is attended with great languor &
not able to walk but with an uneasiness – that his
stomach
is much afflicted at times – indeed often
with a great sense of fatigue & pain even when
hungry – mostly in walking or riding – but finds
relief from sitting down – and mostly from
laying down – the weakness in his Body continue
to a degree –



[Page 2]

His Headachs always attended with fever
very restless in the Night – and very little Sleep
almost constant coldness in his feet thro' the
day. –– that he has tryed the tepid Bathing
at home – 9 times – but yet finds no benefit
but no inconveniences from it rather the
reverse – he finds it agreeable – he means to go
on with it till he hears from Dr Cullen
whether the Doctor will approve of his going
to Bath to drink the Waters & Bathe should
he stay in England all Winter – the Bath
which he uses – is at the Temperature of
90 – and 89 –– the Colnel would be glad to know
from the Doctor – the most probable means
to procure an alleviation to his Complaints
and the chance he has most for ease or
hopes of a little health in his staying in
England this winter – being much incon¬
venient for him should he be obliged to
undertake a journey to the Continent


That the least motion affects him – quickens his
Pulse
– and occasions – a difficulty of breathing – even
getting in or out of Bed – have that effect.
Walking often indeed always more or less has
the same




[Page 3]


{illeg}

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Memorandum from Col Clerk to Dr Cullen –
Rooks Nest 6th Octr 1783


That the obstinate costiveness continue upon
him – without the least abatement – That he never
has the smallest inclination for Passage in
his
Belly
but when he takes medicine for that purpose
which he does every three four or five days – and
then it is with difficulty often that it comes away
not from a hardness of the Fæces – but as he thinks
from a weakness in the Rectum – and with evacu–
ations it is attended with great feebleness and
weakness – thro' his whole Body


That he has great difficulty and pain in making
water
– especially before he goes to stool the pain
mostly at the point of the Penis – and stops during
making with much uneasiness.


That he is attacked very frequently since he came
last from abroad with violent Headachs, not
owing to his costiveness – as it is the same when
his Belly is opened with medicine it is most
frequent when he is exposed to East wind – that
it now takes more Oil &other Medicine to open
him than formerly –


That sense of fulness and oppression in
his Bowels very frequent even when he has
no appetite
and is hungry – that eating dont better
it – and with it is attended with great languor &
not able to walk but with an uneasiness – that his
stomach
is much afflicted at times – indeed often
with a great sense of fatigue & pain even when
hungry – mostly in walking or riding – but finds
relief from sitting down – and mostly from
laying down – the weakness in his Body continue
to a degree –



[Page 2]

His Headachs always attended with fever
very restless in the Night – and very little Sleep
almost constant coldness in his feet thro' the
day. –– that he has tryed the tepid Bathing
at home – 9 times – but yet finds no benefit
but no inconveniences from it rather the
reverse – he finds it agreeable – he means to go
on with it till he hears from Dr Cullen
whether the Doctor will approve of his going
to Bath to drink the Waters & Bathe should
he stay in England all Winter – the Bath
which he uses – is at the Temperature of
90 – and 89 –– the Colnel would be glad to know
from the Doctor – the most probable means
to procure an alleviation to his Complaints
and the chance he has most for ease or
hopes of a little health in his staying in
England this winter – being much incon¬
venient for him should he be obliged to
undertake a journey to the Continent


That the least motion affects him – quickens his
Pulse
– and occasions – a difficulty of breathing – even
getting in or out of Bed – have that effect.
Walking often indeed always more or less has
the same




[Page 3]


{illeg}

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