The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4879] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr James Hamilton / Regarding: Captain Steele (Steel) (Patient) / 16? July? 1784? / (Outgoing)
Reply, 'Capt. Steele'. The patient is moving back to Hamilton's rea and is likely to become a patient. He has respiratory problems, for which Cullen has blistered him. His regimental surgeon had been averse to bleeding him because of 'a weakness of his constitution from a particular cause', possibly a euphemism for a venereal disease. The letter seems to be delivered by Captain Steele in person, as Cullen gives him 9 shillings to pay for a net which he had bought from Hamilton to protect his fruit (from birds): 'It has served to preserve a pretty good Cropt of Cherries which I would have lost without it'.
- 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 | 4879 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/75 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 16? July? 1784? |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | Yes |
| Case Note | Yes |
| Summary | Reply, 'Capt. Steele'. The patient is moving back to Hamilton's rea and is likely to become a patient. He has respiratory problems, for which Cullen has blistered him. His regimental surgeon had been averse to bleeding him because of 'a weakness of his constitution from a particular cause', possibly a euphemism for a venereal disease. The letter seems to be delivered by Captain Steele in person, as Cullen gives him 9 shillings to pay for a net which he had bought from Hamilton to protect his fruit (from birds): 'It has served to preserve a pretty good Cropt of Cherries which I would have lost without it'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1004] |
Case of Captain Steele who has had a painful fever and problems breathing. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:812] | Addressee | Dr James Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:3113] | Patient | Captain Steele (Steel) |
| [PERS ID:812] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr James Hamilton |
| [PERS ID:3553] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr |
| [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 | Dunbar | Borders | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Capt. Steele
{illeg} back a Gentleman Capt. Steele to your
neighbourhood and as he may probably become your Patient
I think it proper to give you my opinion of his Case and
to let you know what I have done in it.
He was attacked about eight or ten days ago with
a pain on the right side of his breast which at times made
his breathing very uneasy but he was without cough
and without fever. The Surgeon of the Regiment from
a supposition of a weakness of his constitution from a
particular cause was averse to bleeding him and had
omitted it for some days of his complaint. This however
not yielding to an Antiphlogistic regimen I advised bleeding
and it was executed to eight or ten ounces. It gave very
little relief and I applied a blister upon the pained
part. This relieved the pain but did not remove it
entirely. Yesterday morning he had a dose of Rochelle
salts 6 drachms with Manna ½ ounce This gave four or five
stools with sensible relief and last night an anodyne
[Page 2]
draught [of?] {illeg} [gave him?] a very good sleep, which
he had not had for {illeg} [nights?] {illeg} and he [was well?]
[ those mornings that I have?] {illeg} [to the?]
Country. I consider the [case is of an inflammatory?] {illeg}
but of a slight kind. I have advised him to keep for
some time to a low diet, to avoid cold and much [exercise?]
& for what may be further necessary I have advised him
to trust to your good judgement.
I am much obliged to you for the Net you sent
me. It has served to preserve a pretty good Cropt of Cherries
which I would have lost without it. I have put into
Capt. Steeles hands nine shillings which I think you
wrote was the price of the net if it was more I shall
thankfully pay it by the first opportunity Believe
to be always Dear Dr very faithfully
Diplomatic Text
Capt. Steele
{illeg} back a Gentleman Capt. Steele to your
neighbourhood and as he may probably become your Patient
I think it proper to give you my opinion of his Case and
to let you know what I have done in it.
He was attacked about eight or ten days ago with
a pain on the right side of his breast which at times made
his breathing very uneasy but he was without cough
and without fever. The Surgeon of the Regiment from
a supposition of a weakness of his constitution from a
particular cause was averse to bleeding him and had
omitted it for some days of his complaint. This however
not yielding to an Antiphlogistic regimen I advised bleeding
and it was executed to eight or ten ounces. It gave very
little relief and I applied a blister upon the pained
part. This relieved the pain but did not remove it
entirely. Yesterday morning he had a dose of Rochelle
salts ʒVI with Manna ℥ſs This gave four or five
stools with sensible relief and last night an anodyne
[Page 2]
draught [of?] {illeg} [gave him?] a very good sleep, which
he had not had for {illeg} [nights?] {illeg} and he [was well?]
[ those mornings that I have?] {illeg} [to the?]
Country. I consider the [case is of an inflammatory?] {illeg}
but of a slight kind. I have advised him to keep for
some time to a low diet, to avoid cold and much [exercise?]
& for what may be further necessary I have advised him
to trust to your good judgement.
I am much obliged to you for the Net you sent
me. It has served to preserve a pretty good Cropt of Cherries
which I would have lost without it. I have put into
Capt. Steeles hands nine shillings which I think you
wrote was the price of the net if it was more I shall
thankfully pay it by the first opportunity Believe
to be always Dear Dr very faithfully
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