The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:379] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: John MacLean (Mclean, Maclean) / Regarding: John MacLean (Mclean, Maclean) (Patient) / 16 January 1776 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr [John] Maclean of Virginia'. The patient is suffering from a swelling that Cullen believes is owing to too much exercise or 'trespass in your manner of living'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 379 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/6/78 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 16 January 1776 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Mr [John] Maclean of Virginia'. The patient is suffering from a swelling that Cullen believes is owing to too much exercise or 'trespass in your manner of living'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:198] |
Case of John Maclean who has a swollen testicle and a discharge which he hopes to relieve as he want to return to Virginia. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:482] | Addressee | John MacLean (Mclean, Maclean) |
| [PERS ID:482] | Patient | John MacLean (Mclean, Maclean) |
| [PERS ID:1596] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Destination of Letter | Glasgow | Glasgow and West | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Mentioned / Other | Virginia | USA | North America | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mr Maclean of Virginia
I am sorry to find that your complaints recur
upon you, but I am persuaded that the swelling is generally
owing to too much exercise, or some trespass in your
manner of living, while you also neglect the suspensory.
I hope therefore that a little attention my prevent the returns
of the swelling & allow the parts to recover their strength.
With regard to the discharge of slime, & the other symptomes
attending it, I am sorry to find that the powders formerly
advised have now lost their effect & I think it would
be very proper for you to try the Bougies. When the passage
seems manifestly much inflamed I cannot say it is
proper to try the Bougies, but a slight inflamation need
not hinder it, & only renders it necessary to be more
cautious in pushing them. With regard to the manage¬
ment I believe Mr Macleans surgeon will need little
instruction, but I will say all that is needful. ----
Let a Bougie be chosen that is rather slender
but take care that it be not so supple near the point
so as to be easely turned. Let such a Bougie be well
oiled or rather anointed with Hogs lard. In this state
let the Bougie be introduced but softly & slowly & when
any resistance is felt, take care not to push forward
with any force, but rather stop & after some little time
renew the trial in the gentlest manner. You can hardly
expect to introduce the Bougie entirely at first trial,
I have known three days necessary to pass a Bougie
tho several trials were made every day. If you pro¬
ceed in the same cautious manner, you will proceed
with safety & at length make your point good. and
I hope it will be with a good effect upon your ailments,
[Page 2]
however we cannot be absolutely certain before hand &
therefore if the Bougie is found to give much
irritation, to raise much inflamation & to increase
the heat of urine you must lay it aside, but I shall
probably hear from you before then. While you attempt
the Bougies you must live low both in Eating & drinking
& avoid exercise almost entirely. Costiveness will
also do harm & therefore must be guarded against
& by medecines if necessary. I supose you will com¬
municate all this to John Mclean who will
understand it & execute it very well. Wishing you
success I am Sir
your most Obedient Servant
1776
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Maclean of Virginia
I am sorry to find that your complaints recur
upon you, but I am persuaded that ye swelling is generally
owing to too much exercise, or some trespass in your
manner of living, while you also neglect ye suspensory.
I hope therefore that a little attention my prevent ye returns
of ye swelling & allow ye parts to recover their strength.
With regard to ye discharge of slime, & ye other symptomes
attending it, I am sorry to find that ye powders formerly
advised have now lost their effect & I think it would
be very proper for you to try ye Bougies. When ye passage
seems manifestly much inflamed I cannot say it is
proper to try ye Bougies, but a slight inflamation need
not hinder it, & only renders it necessary to be more
cautious in pushing them. With regard to ye manage¬
ment I believe Mr Macleans surgeon will need little
instruction, but I will say all that is needful. ----
Let a Bougie be chosen that is rather slender
but take care that it be not so supple near ye point
so as to be easely turned. Let such a Bougie be well
oiled or rather anointed wt Hogs lard. In this state
let ye Bougie be introduced but softly & slowly & when
any resistance is felt, take care not to push forward
wt any force, but rather stop & after some little time
renew ye trial in ye gentlest manner. You can hardly
expect to introduce ye Bougie entirely at first trial,
I have known three days necessary to pass a Bougie
tho several trials were made every day. If you pro¬
ceed in ye same cautious manner, you will proceed
wt safety & at length make your point good. and
I hope it will be wt a good effect upon your ailments,
[Page 2]
however we cannot be absolutely certain before hand &
therefore if ye Bougie is found to give much
irritation, to raise much inflamation & to increase
ye heat of urine you must lay it aside, but I shall
probably hear from you before then. While you attempt
ye Bougies you must live low both in Eatg & drinking
& avoid exercise almost entirely. Costiveness will
also do harm & therefore must be guarded against
& by medecines if necessary. I supose you will com¬
municate all this to Jn. Mclean who will
understand it & execute it very well. Wishing you
success I am Sir
your most Obedt. Servt.
1776
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