Cullen

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

 

[ID:3508] From: Dr Robert Somerville / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Wood (Patient) / 1? May? 1789 / (Incoming)

Letter from Robert Somerville, concerning Miss Wood, the daughter of Mr Wood from Gifford. She has been been ill for 15 months, and he suspects tubercles on the lungs. Two of her brothers have died in the past 2 years, one, aged 17, from phthisis. Her father proposes to bring her to consult Cullen 'tomorrow', presumably bringing his letter.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 3508
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/2400
Main Language English
Document Direction Incoming
Date1? May? 1789
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 Robert Somerville, concerning Miss Wood, the daughter of Mr Wood from Gifford. She has been been ill for 15 months, and he suspects tubercles on the lungs. Two of her brothers have died in the past 2 years, one, aged 17, from phthisis. Her father proposes to bring her to consult Cullen 'tomorrow', presumably bringing his letter.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:2326]
Case of Miss Wood who is debilitated by a cough developing into a serious lung condition suspected of being tubercular.
4


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:4309]AuthorDr Robert Somerville
[PERS ID:1]AddresseeDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:4311]PatientMiss Wood
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:4309]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Robert Somerville
[PERS ID:4313]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr William Wood
[PERS ID:4310]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr William Wood
[PERS ID:4312]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMr Wood

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Haddington Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe inferred
Destination of Letter Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Gifford Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Sir


A Mr. Wood from the parish of Gifford wishes to
consult you for a young Lady his daughter, who has been under my
care for some time Her complaints began about fifteen Months
since with a cough which for a considerable time was so slight
that it was taken no notice of either by herself or the family - It
continued in that way till some time in February last. when after a
visit where she was supposed to have catched cold it was very
much aggravated particularly after going to bed - from the first
appearance of the cough till the time I have mentioned there was
very little spitting and that little of a frothy nature


Since that time the following symptoms have appeared
An almost total loss of appetite
A frequent and troublesome Diarrhœa
A quick small pulse from 80 to 120 - but very variable
- The Urine high coloured, exceedingly scanty, and full of a brownish
sometimes a Red sediment


The spitting is very copious at times it is of a whitish colour but
for the most part it is yellow or green, and of a tough consistence
The Menses continue, pretty regular but much diminished in quantity


The breathing in general pretty easy


There has been shifting pains in the breast and sides, but of no duration


Sleeps easily on both sides




[Page 2]


previous to the date of these complaints, she was of a florid complexion
and had much the appearance of strength, but since the symptoms
became Urgent, a very considerable degree of debility has taken
place together with a lassitude and loss of colour. These as
near as I can recollect are the whole or at least the principal
part of the symptoms -- from the strictest observation (↑attention↑) I have
not observed the fever to put on the appearance of a Hectic, tho'
I have little doubt that a Tubercle or Tubercles are formed in the
Lungs. -- It will be proper to inform you that two of her
Brothers have dies within those two years -- the complaints of
the oldest were a little Ambiguous, but the youngest a lad of
Seventeen died of a Phthisis distinctly marked, and I think
brought on by Tubercles. The first of this young Ladys
complaints appeared after her Brothers death at that time
she was much fatigued by a constant attendance upon him


Her Father proposes bringing her to Edinburgh
tomorrow, and wishes you could make it convenient to be at
home between one and two o Clock it is probable I will be
with them -- but if any thing occur to prevent me this will
serve to explain her situation. The only medecines she
has made use of were Squill [Mixtures?] early in the disease
and since the cough became troublesome she has generally taken



[Page 3]

an Opiate in the evening. I have {illeg} [given?] her a Mixture of Spt. Nit. Dulc. &c
with an intention to promote the {illeg}Fluid Nitre but the
irritation it excited in the Lungs {illeg} unsafe --

I am respectfully
Sir
Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
Robt Somerville


P.S. I have made the usual experiments both upon the matter spit up
and the sediment in the urine but met with no circumstance that could
make me suspect they were Pus




[Page 4]


Dr. Willm. Cullen
Physician
Edinburgh

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Sir


A Mr. Wood from the parish of Gifford wishes to
consult you for a young Lady his daughter, who has been under my
care for some time Her complaints began about fifteen Months
since with a cough which for a considerable time was so slight
that it was taken no notice of either by herself or the family - It
continued in that way till some time in Feb:y last. when after a
visit where she was supposed to have catched cold it was very
much aggravated particularly after going to bed - from the first
appearance of the cough till the time I have mentioned there was
very little spitting and that little of a frothy nature


Since that time the following symptoms have appeared
An almost total loss of appetite
A frequent and troublesome Diarrhœa
A quick small pulse from 80 to 120 - but very variable
- The Urine high coloured, exceedingly scanty, and full of a brownish
sometimes a Red sediment


The spitting is very copious at times it is of a whitish colour but
for the most part it is yellow or green, and of a tough consistence
The Menses continue, pretty regular but much diminished in quantity


The breathing in general pretty easy


There has been shifting pains in the breast and sides, but of no duration


Sleeps easily on both sides




[Page 2]


previous to the date of these complaints, she was of a florid compn:
and had much the appearance of strength, but since the symptoms
became Urgent, a very considerable degree of debility has taken
place together with a lassitude and loss of colour. These as
near as I can recollect are the whole or at least the principal
part of the symptoms -- from the strictest observation (↑attention↑) I have
not observed the fever to put on the appearance of a Hectic, tho'
I have little doubt that a Tubercle or Tubercles are formed in the
Lungs. -- It will be proper to inform you that two of her
Brothers have dies within those two years -- the complaints of
the oldest were a little Ambiguous, but the youngest a lad of
Seventeen died of a Phthisis distinctly marked, and I think
brought on by Tubercles. The first of this young Ladys
complaints appeared after her Brothers death at that time
she was much fatigued by a constant attendance upon him


Her Father proposes bringing her to Edinr.
tomorrow, and wishes you could make it convenient to be at
home between one and two o Clock it is probable I will be
with them -- but if any thing occur to prevent me this will
serve to explain her situation. The only medecines she
has made use of were Squill [Mixtures?] early in the disease
and since the cough became troublesome she has generally taken



[Page 3]

an Opiate in the evening. I have {illeg} [given?] her a Mixture of Spt. Nit. Dulc. &c
with an intention to promote the {illeg}Fluid Nitre but the
irritation it excited in the Lungs {illeg} unsafe --

I am respectfully
Sir
Your Most Obedt. Humble Sert
Robt Somerville


P.S. I have made the usual experiments both upon the matter spit up
and the sediment in the urine but met with no circumstance that could
make me suspect they were Pus




[Page 4]


Dr. Willm. Cullen
Physician
Edinr

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