The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:4928] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Anonymous / Regarding: Captain McPherson (Macpherson) (Patient) / 10 October 1784 / (Outgoing)
Reply headed 'For Capt. McPherson'. He is 'liable to heats and flushings' and threatened with more troublesome ailments. To fend these off, Cullen gives diet and lifestyle suggestions, and that it may be necessary for him to winter in a warmer climate if he does not improve.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
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Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 4928 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/17/122 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 10 October 1784 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply headed 'For Capt. McPherson'. He is 'liable to heats and flushings' and threatened with more troublesome ailments. To fend these off, Cullen gives diet and lifestyle suggestions, and that it may be necessary for him to winter in a warmer climate if he does not improve. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1768] |
Case of Captain Macpherson [McPherson] who is advised on a cooling regimen to obviate 'heat and flushings'. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:4241] | Addressee | |
| [PERS ID:4240] | Patient | Captain McPherson (Macpherson) |
| [PERS ID:4241] | 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 |
Normalized Text
For Capt. Mc.Pherson
After considering the history and present state
of his complaints we are sorry to observe that his Consti¬
tution is not so well established as we could wish
and that he is still threatened with ailments which
might be very troublesome. At the same time
we are satisfied that these are threatnings only no
ways confirmed and that the consequences may
be entirely avoided. But we must also observe that
to avoid these consequences a great deal of attention
and precaution may be necessary and certainly will
be prudent.
As he is liable to heats and flushings, so
fullness and an inflammatory state is to be
carefully guarded against, so we judge a light
and cooling diet to be still necessary and
[Page 2]
therefore advise the continuance of the milk and
vegetable diet he has of late successfully followed.
We would not absolutely forbid a little Animal
Broth at dinner and a little of the lighter kinds
of Animal food but we would have even the
latter sparingly employed and not in any measure
tasted at Supper.
In drinking if he finds any disposition to
to Costiveness he may take a little fine Small
beer when he takes any Animal food at dinner
but we cannot advise or allow his taking stronger
drink of any kind either at dinner or Supper
To obviate fullness and inflammation
we think some kind of Issue very necessary
and hope the issue now put in to the Arm
will answer the purpose and think that
pains should be taken to keep it discharging
[Page 3]
properly till at least Midsummer next and in
the mean time if any pain should seem to fix in
his side or breast that a blister should be applied
upon the part and perhaps a part of the blis¬
tered place kept open as an Issue for some
time after.
Bodily Exercise except of the most gentle
kind is to be carefully avoided but as often as the
weather is mild and not very wet he may be
the better for Riding out a good deal upon a
smooth going Horse.
The greatest care must be taken to avoid
cold and therefore he should constantly wear
flannel or Woolen every where next his Skin
and in general using warm Cloathing. These
precautions carefully executed may possibly secure
the Captain remaining in Scotland for the
[Page 4]
winter but this is an uncertain and precarious
measure and it is extremely difficult for persons
with any flaw in their constitution to avoid the
effects of Winter in this Climate. and If therefore
if Capt. Mc.Phersons ailments should in the
course of this month or even of the next become
more considerable and more threatning his
great safety will be in repairing to a warm
Climate before Christmas and remaining there
till April next. If such a resolution shall be
taken we shall be ready to give our best advice
for the conduct of it.
1784
Diplomatic Text
For Capt. Mc.Pherson
After considering the history and present state
of his complaints we are sorry to observe that his Consti¬
tution is not so well established as we could wish
and that he is still threatened with ailments which
might be very troublesome. At the same time
we are satisfied that these are threatnings only no
ways confirmed and that the consequences may
be entirely avoided. But we must also observe that
to avoid these consequences a great deal of attention
and precaution may be necessary and certainly will
be prudent.
As he is liable to heats and flushings, so
fullness and an inflammatory state is to be
carefully guarded against, so we judge a light
and cooling diet to be still necessary and
[Page 2]
therefore advise the continuance of the milk and
vegetable diet he has of late successfully followed.
We would not absolutely forbid a little Animal
Broth at dinner and a little of the lighter kinds
of Animal food but we would have even the
latter sparingly employed and not in any measure
tasted at Supper.
In drinking if he finds any disposition to
to Costiveness he may take a little fine Small
beer when he takes any Animal food at dinner
but we cannot advise or allow his taking stronger
drink of any kind either at dinner or Supper
To obviate fullness and inflammation
we think some kind of Issue very necessary
and hope the issue now put in to the Arm
will answer the purpose and think that
pains should be taken to keep it discharging
[Page 3]
properly till at least Midsummer next and in
the mean time if any pain should seem to fix in
his side or breast that a blister should be applied
upon the part and perhaps a part of the blis¬
tered place kept open as an Issue for some
time after.
Bodily Exercise except of the most gentle
kind is to be carefully avoided but as often as the
weather is mild and not very wet he may be
the better for Riding out a good deal upon a
smooth going Horse.
The greatest care must be taken to avoid
cold and therefore he should constantly wear
flannel or Woolen every where next his Skin
and in general using warm Cloathing. These
precautions carefully executed may possibly secure
the Captain remaining in Scotland for the
[Page 4]
winter but this is an uncertain and precarious
measure and it is extremely difficult for persons
with any flaw in their constitution to avoid the
effects of Winter in this Climate. and If therefore
if Capt. Mc.Phersons ailments should in the
course of this month or even of the next become
more considerable and more threatning his
great safety will be in repairing to a warm
Climate before Christmas and remaining there
till April next. If such a resolution shall be
taken we shall be ready to give our best advice
for the conduct of it.
1784
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