Cullen

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

 

[ID:4197] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Lady Helen Douglas (Hamilton) (Lady Selkirk) / Regarding: Lady Mary Douglas (Patient) / 24 December 1777 / (Outgoing)

Reply headed 'Lady Selkirk C. Lady Mary Douglas' (although labelled pp.44-5).

Facsimile

There are 2 images for this document.

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[Page 2]


 
 

Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 4197
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/10/54
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date24 December 1777
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply headed 'Lady Selkirk C. Lady Mary Douglas' (although labelled pp.44-5).
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:365]
Case of Lady Mary Douglas diagnosed with a 'weakness of her bowels'.
3


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1017]AddresseeLady Helen Douglas (Lady Selkirk)
[PERS ID:1070]PatientLady Mary Douglas
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:886]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendEarl Dunbar Douglas (Lord Selkirk, 4th Earl of Selkirk)
[PERS ID:1017]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendLady Helen Douglas (Lady Selkirk)

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 St Mary's Isle Borders Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Lady Selkirk Concerning Lady Mary Douglas


I think of Lady Mary's Case precisely as I did
before - She has a weakness of her bowels liable
to return & will be so till she is older &
stronger - The first return of her complaints I look
upon to be of this kind because they were so
remarkably mended by the Bark. -- But Lady
Mary has another infirmity in being liable
to catch cold & the second instance I consider
as the effect of cold & then the Bark not
only does no service but is ready to do harm. --


I have often told your Ladyship that in
children I am as sparing of Drugs as possible
& always trust more to fresh air & exercise
Your ladyship has taken pains to use as much
fresh air & exercise as the season allows of
& you must continue to do so, sometimes giving
a little bark; but seldom & sparingly ---


Her Diet has been rather indulgent; but the
winter season admits of a good deal - As I was
full in my letter to Lord Selkirk on this subject 1
I need not repeat now --


In all I have said I have abstracted from the



[Page 2]

consideration of worms & those I have no reason
from what I saw or heard of about Lady Mary while
in Town to suppose worms in the Case; but I can
never put an absolute negative upon the Suppo¬
sition. The grinding of the Teeth is often a Symptom
tho not always infallible; but if you or Lord
Selkirk wish to have your minds satisfied &
tho I give little credit to the testimonies you mention
I have no objection to your trying good Lad Lady
Glenorchies Powder. 2 I have examined them
but cannot be certain of their contents. I cannot
positively say there is Mercury, but I think
there is; but it is in such small quantity that
it cannot be dangerous & all I have to
say is that unless circumstances are very urgent
I would d delay trying the powders till a better season.


24th December
1777.

Notes:

1: See Cullen to Lord Selkirk, 6 October, 1777 (Letter ID:4164, being the earliest associated with this Case).

2: A worming powder privately supplied by Lady Glenorchy (not a proprietary medicine).

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Lady Selkirk C. Lady Mary Douglas


I think of Lady Mary's Case precisely as I did
before - She has a weakness of her bowels liable
to return & will be so till she is older &
stronger - The first return of her compts I look
upon to be of this kind because they were so
remarkably mended by the Bark. -- But Lady
Mary has another infirmity in being liable
to catch cold & the second instance I consider
as the effect of cold & then the Bark not
only does no service but is ready to do harm. --


I have often told your Ladyship that in
children I am as sparing of Drugs as possible
& always trust more to fresh air & exercise
Your ladyship has taken pains to use as much
fresh air & exercise as the season allows of
& you must continue to do so, sometimes giving
a little bark; but seldom & sparingly ---


Her Diet has been rather indulgent; but the
winter season admits of a good deal - As I was
full in my letter to Lord Selkirk on this subject 1
I need not repeat now --


In all I have said I have abstracted from the



[Page 2]

consideration of worms & those I have no reason
from what I saw or heard of about Lady Mary while
in Town to suppose worms in the Case; but I can
never put an absolute negative upon the Suppo¬
sition. The grinding of the Teeth is often a Symptom
tho not always infallible; but if you or Lord
Selkirk wish to have your minds satisfied &
tho I give little credit to the testimonies you mention
I have no objection to your trying good Lad Lady
Glenorchies Powder. 2 I have examined them
but cannot be certain of their contents. I cannot
positively say there is Mercury, but I think
there is; but it is in such small qty that
it cannot be dangerous & all I have to
say is that unless circumstances are very urgent
I would d delay trying the powders till a better season.


24th Dec
1777.

Notes:

1: See Cullen to Lord Selkirk, 6 October, 1777 (Letter ID:4164, being the earliest associated with this Case).

2: A worming powder privately supplied by Lady Glenorchy (not a proprietary medicine).

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