The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4566] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) / Regarding: Dr William Millar (Miller; of Walkinshaw) (Patient) / 19 January 1780 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Mr Miller of Walkinshaw'. Miller has gout and possibly hydrothorax. Cullen says 'Complaints distressing & dangerous'. He gives advice on medicines and blistering, but says that 'the effects of mustard or garlic applied to the feet may not be very durable'.
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- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
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Facsimile
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[Page 1]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4566 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/12/133 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 19 January 1780 |
| 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 headed 'For Mr Miller of Walkinshaw'. Miller has gout and possibly hydrothorax. Cullen says 'Complaints distressing & dangerous'. He gives advice on medicines and blistering, but says that 'the effects of mustard or garlic applied to the feet may not be very durable'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1274] |
Case of Dr William Miller of Walkinshaw who has gout. |
2 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Addressee | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
| [PERS ID:661] | Patient | Dr William Millar (Miller; of Walkinshaw) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:563] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Stevenson (Professor; of Dalgairn ) |
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 |
Normalized Text
For Mr Miller of Walkinshaw.
Complaints distressing & dangerous. Gout, which will
be difficult to establish in a proper form at his age &
with his manner of life.
Moderation in eating & drinking. Two bottles of
claret tho they make him sleep must hurt next day,
but they point out opiates for the suffocating fits.
The only medicine I can recommend is the use of
Guaiac in such quantity as just to keep his belly re¬
gular. It does not need the addition you gave to the Asa
fœtida; and may be given in substance, well diffused
in mucilage in water. It answers exceedingly well dis¬
solved in [wine?] which leaves undissolved the useless part.
The best kind gives a white solution. Continue his issue
& perhaps another; & a blister between his shoulders.
Exercise if practicable would be useful. Tho his fits
of suffocation appear spasmodic, it is possible water may
be collecting in the thorax, but I know no diuretic con¬
venient for employing unless he will bear so much squills
as to puke him & answer in room of the Ipecacuanha & mustard,
otherwise their nausea will be very disagreeable. The guaiac
sometimes is diuretic & you may try fixed alkali which
agrees with all gouty stomachs. A good formula is an
ounce of salt of tartar to a pound of an infusion of dried
orange peel. A spoonful of this in brandy & water several
times a day. I fear the effects of mustard or garlic ap¬
plied to the feet will not be very durable.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Miller of Walkinshaw.
Complaints distressing & dangerous. Gout, which will
be difficult to establish in a proper form at his age &
with his manner of life.
Moderation in eating & drinking. Two bottles of
claret tho they make him sleep must hurt next day,
but they point out opiates for the suffocating fits.
The only medicine I can recommend is the use of
Guaiac in such quantity as just to keep his belly re¬
gular. It does not need the addition you gave to the Asa
fœtida; and may be given in substance, well diffused
in mucilage in water. It answers exceedingly well dis¬
solved in [wine?] which leaves undissolved the useless part.
The best kind gives a white solution. Continue his issue
& perhaps another; & a blister between his shoulders.
Exercise if practicable would be useful. Tho his fits
of suffocation appear spasmodic, it is possible water may
be collecting in the thorax, but I know no diuretic con¬
venient for employing unless he will bear so much squills
as to puke him & answer in room of the Ipecac. & mustard,
otherwise their nausea will be very disagreeable. The guaiac
sometimes is diuretic & you may try fixed alkali which
agrees with all gouty stomachs. A good formula is an
ounce of salt of tartar to a pound of an infusion of dried
orange peel. A spoonful of this in brandy & water several
times a day. I fear the effects of mustard or garlic ap¬
plied to the feet will not be very durable.
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