The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:2662] From: Mr John Warrandice / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Mr John Warrandice (Patient) / 14 July 1785 / (Incoming)
Letter from John Warrandice, concerning his own case in which he writes at length of his history of suffering from feelings of 'terror' since childhood which he partly ascribes to subsequent 'self-abuse' exacerbated in adulthood by the demands of his work and drinking etc. He asks for responses to be directed to George Renny, Merchant, Falkirk.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 2662 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/1704 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 14 July 1785 |
| 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 John Warrandice, concerning his own case in which he writes at length of his history of suffering from feelings of 'terror' since childhood which he partly ascribes to subsequent 'self-abuse' exacerbated in adulthood by the demands of his work and drinking etc. He asks for responses to be directed to George Renny, Merchant, Falkirk. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | Yes |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:662] |
Case of John Warrandice (likely a pseudonym based on a legal term) who has had weak nerves since childhood and who believes he has weakened his constitution further through 'self-abuse'. |
5 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1208] | Author | Mr John Warrandice |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1208] | Patient | Mr John Warrandice |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:1209] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mr George Renny |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Falkirk | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place of Handstamp | Falkirk | Mid Scotland | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
From the earliest period of my life I can remember
I have been afflicted with a disorder of the nervous or
hypcon¬
driac kind. When I was a child it appeared chiefly in the night
by filling me with fearful and gloomy ideas which awaked me with
great terror. My parents have told me that this was occasioned
by afright some young fellow in the neighbourhood gave me when
an infant. When at school it discovered itself by extreme diffi¬
dence - a swimming in my head
after going to bed - and several other
ways I cannot now recollect.
When I arrived at the age of fourteen, thro the bad example
of my companions I got into a custom that greatly strengthened the
disorder+. It now appeard by a weakness
at the breast – pains in
the small of my back -
a difficulty of breathing & a constant fear of
death. Something like a lump appeard to be in my throat
which seemd to threaten suffocation, and sometimes a weakness
would come across my heart which I was afraid woud instantly
carry me off. A few years after this period these symptoms seemd
gradually to abate – I woud at times indeed be affected ↑with↑ extraor–
dinary notions - I imagined I felt symptoms of disorder upon me
I was free from: but these seldom lasted long – and in this
way I continued till about two years ago - when my complaints
returned upon me in a way more terrible than ever.
For some days I had been under some anxiety of mind, and one
night I went to bed rather more uneasy than usual. About two
hours after I had fallen asleep I awoke in a confused sort of dream in
a situation of mind the most gloomy and distressing. I arose out
of bed and walked across the room in great agitation. I coud have
run out into the fields but was afraid of exposing myself. In
a little time I returned to bed and after tossing backwards and
forwards for sometime I again fell asleep and awaked in the
morning rather more composed. ––– What rendered my situation
the more uneasy was that I had that day to set out upon a Jour¬
ney which was to take me about two weeks. After dinner however
+ self abuse
[Page 2]
I got myself ready and set off. I was but a short way from home
when I fell into a train of ideas that quite altered the frame of
my mind and made my whole Journey pretty agreeable. I
forgot my former complaints and used too much freedom with
my constitution. I was anxious about getting home and allow'd
myself too little sleep. I rode pretty long stages before break¬
fast which I often wanted till after ten oClock. For a good
part of the Journey my only drink was a bit of bread and a
draught of porter: and twice at night I drank two much
wine. The consequence of all this was - that a short time
after I returned home my old terrors came upon me in the night.
and continued with me in a good measure thro the day – the merest
triffles filled me with fear - every thing appeared thro a gloomy
medium and by this means my life was rendered very uncomfort¬
ale. Sometimes I took a ride out in the morning, but this sem¬
ed to do me little good, and I scarse used any other means for
removing my complaints. My natural bashfulness kept me from
communicating my case to any body - but I had the address so to
manage matters that few or none suspected me of being ill. At
supper I used to drink plentifully of small beer which helped to
cheer up my spirits and made me sleep tolerably the first half
of the night; and during the other half I slept but little. I
carefully avoided the use of spirits and laudanum because of their
pernicious effects in such cases, and my food was just such as
other people use.
In about half a Year after this last attack I [guu?] a little
easier and was enabled to pursue my business with some degree
of composure for about a twelvemonth: but about six weeks (↑a month↑)
ago the disease came back in another form. I took a great
uneasiness about the heart which increased greatly with the
warmth of the weather. My sleep thro the night was very
unsound. My imagination was in a manner ungovernable and a
prey to every invading idea. My mind coud scarse fix on an
agreeable thought - nothing coud entertain me and I persued my
secular employments with aversion. The affection of my mind seemd
[Page 3]
to suffer. Sometimes I was in a state of stupefaction - indifferent to
every thing around. I knew myself to exist and that was all -
& Neither grief joy love fear or any passion of the mind seemd to
have the same influence as formerly: At present I am a
little better but have reason to suspect that this will not be of
long duration ––– One thing is remarkable that in all these
different attacks my health can never be said to have suffaid;
and at this moment my appetite and digestion are excellent - nor
does any body suspect any thing to be the matter with me.
I wou'd not have troubled you with so long a letter had it
not been to enable you to form a distinct Judgement of my case
and to point out such medicine and regimen as will at least
alleviate, if not remove my complaints. This last I have but little
reason to expect tho at present I am withen 30 years of age, as
from some circumstances I have grounds to believe that they
are partly hereditary.
The nature of my employment gives me about an hour or an hour
and a half time to myself before breakfast and as much in
the afternoon. My business is by no means of the sidentary
kind and sometimes occasions me to be from home for about
a week at once: and on these Journeys I am a good deal exposed
to drinking, tho for the most part with respect to this I am
scrupulously cautious. I often take a little snuff which cheers
me a little while, but has a tendency to weaken my nerves
and stupify me. When I feel any uneasiness in the night I
am indisposed to sleep I sometimes use and take two glasses of port
wine which has a good effect. Since the commencement of the
warm weather I have mostly given over the use of small beer
↑as I found it filld me with wind↑
and gradually drink a little spirits and water - but as I have
never till now applied to any Physician my way of life, in
other respects is continued the same as before
I have only to intreat Sir that you will give my case a
careful perusal and send me your best advice in a few posts -
You will also let me know your usual fee and it shall be
honestly transmitted - I am with great respect
turn over
[Page 4]
Please direct to the care of Mr. George Renny merchant Falkirk
N:B: I have sometimes an opportunity of bathing
single sheet
Drr. Cullen
Professor of Medicine
university
Edinburgh
Mr. John Warrandice
June 1785
V. XVII p.146
Diplomatic Text
From the earliest period of my life I can remember
I have been afflicted with a disorder of the nervous or
hypcon¬
driac kind. When I was a child it appeared chiefly in the night
by filling me with fearful and gloomy ideas which awaked me with
great terror. My parents have told me that this was occasioned
by afright some young fellow in the neighbourhood gave me when
an infant. When at school it discovered itself by extreme diffi¬
dence - a swimming in my head
after going to bed - and several other
ways I cannot now recollect.
When I arrived at the age of fourteen, thro the bad example
of my companions I got into a custom that greatly strengthened the
disorder+. It now appeard by a weakness
at the breast – pains in
the small of my back -
a difficulty of breathing & a constant fear of
death. Something like a lump appeard to be in my throat
which seemd to threaten suffocation, and sometimes a weakness
would come across my heart which I was afraid woud instantly
carry me off. A few years after this period these symptoms seemd
gradually to abate – I woud at times indeed be affected ↑with↑ extraor–
dinary notions - I imagined I felt symptoms of disorder upon me
I was free from: but these seldom lasted long – and in this
way I continued till about two years ago - when my complaints
returned upon me in a way more terrible than ever.
For some days I had been under some anxiety of mind, and one
night I went to bed rather more uneasy than usual. About two
hours after I had fallen asleep I awoke in a confused sort of dream in
a situation of mind the most gloomy and distressing. I arose out
of bed and walked across the room in great agitation. I coud have
run out into the fields but was afraid of exposing myself. In
a little time I returned to bed and after tossing backwards and
forwards for sometime I again fell asleep and awaked in the
morning rather more composed. ––– What rendered my situation
the more uneasy was that I had that day to set out upon a Jour¬
ney which was to take me about two weeks. After dinner however
+ self abuse
[Page 2]
I got myself ready and set off. I was but a short way from home
when I fell into a train of ideas that quite altered the frame of
my mind and made my whole Journey pretty agreeable. I
forgot my former complaints and used too much freedom with
my constitution. I was anxious about getting home and allow'd
myself too little sleep. I rode pretty long stages before break¬
fast which I often wanted till after ten oClock. For a good
part of the Journey my only drink was a bit of bread and a
draught of porter: and twice at night I drank two much
wine. The consequence of all this was - that a short time
after I returned home my old terrors came upon me in the night.
and continued with me in a good measure thro the day – the merest
triffles filled me with fear - every thing appeared thro a gloomy
medium and by this means my life was rendered very uncomfort¬
ale. Sometimes I took a ride out in the morning, but this sem¬
ed to do me little good, and I scarse used any other means for
removing my complaints. My natural bashfulness kept me from
communicating my case to any body - but I had the address so to
manage matters that few or none suspected me of being ill. At
supper I used to drink plentifully of small beer which helped to
cheer up my spirits and made me sleep tolerably the first half
of the night; and during the other half I slept but little. I
carefully avoided the use of spirits and laudanum because of their
pernicious effects in such cases, and my food was just such as
other people use.
In about half a Year after this last attack I [guu?] a little
easier and was enabled to pursue my business with some degree
of composure for about a twelvemonth: but about six weeks (↑a month↑)
ago the disease came back in another form. I took a great
uneasiness about the heart which increased greatly with the
warmth of the weather. My sleep thro the night was very
unsound. My imagination was in a manner ungovernable and a
prey to every invading idea. My mind coud scarse fix on an
agreeable thought - nothing coud entertain me and I persued my
secular employments with aversion. The affection of my mind seemd
[Page 3]
to suffer. Sometimes I was in a state of stupefaction - indifferent to
every thing around. I knew myself to exist and that was all -
& Neither grief joy love fear or any passion of the mind seemd to
have the same influence as formerly: At present I am a
little better but have reason to suspect that this will not be of
long duration ––– One thing is remarkable that in all these
different attacks my health can never be said to have suffaid;
and at this moment my appetite and digestion are excellent - nor
does any body suspect any thing to be the matter with me.
I wou'd not have troubled you with so long a letter had it
not been to enable you to form a distinct Judgement of my case
and to point out such medicine and regimen as will at least
alleviate, if not remove my complaints. This last I have but little
reason to expect tho at present I am withen 30 years of age, as
from some circumstances I have grounds to believe that they
are partly hereditary.
The nature of my employment gives me about an hour or an hour
and a half time to myself before breakfast and as much in
the afternoon. My business is by no means of the sidentary
kind and sometimes occasions me to be from home for about
a week at once: and on these Journeys I am a good deal exposed
to drinking, tho for the most part with respect to this I am
scrupulously cautious. I often take a little snuff which cheers
me a little while, but has a tendency to weaken my nerves
and stupify me. When I feel any uneasiness in the night I
am indisposed to sleep I sometimes use and take two glasses of port
wine which has a good effect. Since the commencement of the
warm weather I have mostly given over the use of small beer
↑as I found it filld me w,sup>t. wind↑
and gradually drink a little spirits and water - but as I have
never till now applied to any Physician my way of life, in
other respects is continued the same as before
I have only to intreat Sir that you will give my case a
careful perusal and send me your best advice in a few posts -
You will also let me know your usual fee and it shall be
honestly transmitted - I am with great respect
turn over
[Page 4]
Please direct to the care of Mr. George Renny merct Falkirk
N:B: I have sometimes an opportunity of bathing
single sheet
Drr. Cullen
Professor of Medicine
university
Edinburgh
Mr. John Warrandice
June 1785
V. XVII p.146
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