The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:5135] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mrs Mary Forsythe (Forsayth, Forsaythe, Forsyth) (Patient) / 25 August 1785 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mrs Forsyth'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 5135 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/18/117 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 25 August 1785 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine scribal copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Mrs Forsyth' |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1786] |
Case of Mrs Forsaythe [Forsyth] who has a 'tremor' and partial paralyis down her entire right side, accompanied by other symptoms. |
9 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:3060] | Patient | Mrs Mary Forsythe (Forsayth, Forsaythe, Forsyth) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2173] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Alexander Henry Halliday (Halyday, Halleday) |
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 | Belfast | North Ireland | Ireland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mrs. Forsyth
I have considered the account given me with
great attention and am entirely of Dr. Hallidays
opinion that the Case is truly Paralytic. It is well
that it has not yet affected her brain or her ge¬
neral health, but it seems to be rather increasing
and no time is to be lost in taking measures for
preventing that. Dr. Halidays infusion was
I think judiciously proposed, but it is what
sometimes fails and as it was prescribed in June
last I dare Say it has been tried and therefore
I leave it to that experience to determine whether
it should be continued or laid aside. I have ordered
below a Medicine which I hope may be useful
in relieving her Symptoms and particularly in
obviating Costiveness which I think is particu¬
larly necessary and if the Diaphoretic Solution
does not Answer this purpose I would advise
[Page 2]
the use of the pills also prescribed below, so as to prevent
all costiveness. I do not however expect so much relief
from internal medicines as I do from certain exter¬
nals. Of these however I cannot advise either Cold
or warm bathing. The very frequent use of the flesh
brush I hold to be extremely proper. Dr. Halidays
liniment was sufficiently promising but it is not
very convenient with the use of the flesh brush but
I suppose it has been tried and the propriety of it
therefore determined. The remedy that I would de¬
pend upon in this Case is Electricity and a small
Apparatus to be managed by the family themselves
will be sufficient, for I don't think that strong
Shocks are at all proper and more is to be expected
from gentle Shocks frequently repeated, and if possible
Several times a day. Let the Shocks be kept quite clear
of the head and always directed so as to enter by the Shoulder
or haunch and to proceed from thence to the hand or foot.
Once or rather twice a day Sparks may be taken from the
elbow and knee till the joints are a little reddened but the Lady
must not be {illeg} with taking them from any other part.
[Page 3]
Her exercise on horseback or in a Carriage should be
continued as far as may be convenient. She should avoid
Knitting, Sewing or any other motions that are apt
to induce a trembling. Her diet should be light but nou¬
rishing and a little wine will be very allowable.
Edinburgh 25th. August
1785
Take two drachms of Gum Guaiacum and three drachms of the purest white Sugar. Blend together into a fine powder then add two ounces of Muscilage of thick Gum Arabic. Blend again, carefully, and while blending, gradually pour in one ounce of Volatile Elixir of Guaiacin, two ounces of Daffy's Elixir and two ounces each of Peppermint Water and Rose Water. Label: Diaphoretic Solution. A tablespoonful or two to be taken every night at bedtime taking care to shake the phial very well before pouring out.
Take one ounce of Aloetic Pill Mass, fifteen grains of Gamboge and a sufficient quantity of Simple Syrup to make a mass to be divided into fifteen pills. Label: Laxative pills one or two to be taken at bedtime when costiveness requires.
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs. Forsyth
I have considered the account given me with
great attention and am entirely of Dr. Hallidays
opinion that the Case is truly Paralytic. It is well
that it has not yet affected her brain or her ge¬
neral health, but it seems to be rather increasing
and no time is to be lost in taking measures for
preventing that. Dr. Halidays infusion was
I think judiciously proposed, but it is what
sometimes fails and as it was prescribed in June
last I dare Say it has been tried and therefore
I leave it to that experience to determine whether
it should be continued or laid aside. I have ordered
below a Medicine which I hope may be useful
in relieving her Symptoms and particularly in
obviating Costiveness which I think is particu¬
larly necessary and if the Diaphoretic Solution
does not Answer this purpose I would advise
[Page 2]
the use of the pills also prescribed below, so as to prevent
all costiveness. I do not however expect so much relief
from internal medicines as I do from certain exter¬
nals. Of these however I cannot advise either Cold
or warm bathing. The very frequent use of the flesh
brush I hold to be extremely proper. Dr. Halidays
liniment was sufficiently promising but it is not
very convenient with the use of the flesh brush but
I suppose it has been tried and the propriety of it
therefore determined. The remedy that I would de¬
pend upon in this Case is Electricity and a small
Apparatus to be managed by the family themselves
will be sufficient, for I don't think that strong
Shocks are at all proper and more is to be expected
from gentle Shocks frequently repeated, and if possible
Several times a day. Let the Shocks be kept quite clear
of the head and always directed so as to enter by the Shoulder
or haunch and to proceed from thence to the hand or foot.
Once or rather twice a day Sparks may be taken from the
elbow and knee till the joints are a little reddened but the Lady
must not be {illeg} with taking them from any other part.
[Page 3]
Her exercise on horseback or in a Carriage should be
continued as far as may be convenient. She should avoid
Knitting, Sewing or any other motions that are apt
to induce a trembling. Her diet should be light but nou¬
rishing and a little wine will be very allowable.
Edinr. 25th. Augt.
1785
℞ Gum. Guaiac. ʒij
Sacchar. alb. puriss. ʒiij
Terito simul in pulverem tenuem cui adde
Mucilag. G. Arab. crass ℥ij
Terito iterum diligenter et paulatim dum teritur affunde
Elix. Guaiac. Volat. ℥j
Tinct. Senn. comp. Pharm. Ed. ℥ij
Aq. Menth. Pip.
Rosar @ ℥ij
Sig. Diaphoretic solution a table spoonful or two to be
taken every night at bedtime taking care to shake the phial
very well before pouring out
℞ Massa Pil. Aloet. Pharm. Ed. Gambog. gr XV Syr
Simpl. q. s. ut. f. massa divid. in pil. № XV. Sig. Laxative
pills one or two to be taken at bedtime when costiveness requires.
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