The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:628] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr J. Spens / Regarding: Mr J. Spens (Patient) / 26 August 1782 / (Outgoing)
Reply to J. Spens for whom Cullen had recently proposed a course of mercury, discussing and, to some extent disagreeing with the treatments adopted by local surgeons . Cullen becomes unusually self-reflective: 'We are by no means infallible guides and men sometimes suffer by our mistakes but still it is the safest and surest for every one to follow implicitly the advice of those who have the best pretensions to judgement, experience and probity'.
- 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 | 628 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/113 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 26 August 1782 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Machine copy |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply to J. Spens for whom Cullen had recently proposed a course of mercury, discussing and, to some extent disagreeing with the treatments adopted by local surgeons . Cullen becomes unusually self-reflective: 'We are by no means infallible guides and men sometimes suffer by our mistakes but still it is the safest and surest for every one to follow implicitly the advice of those who have the best pretensions to judgement, experience and probity'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1468] |
Case of Mr J. Spens who is thought to have gout, but his primary problem is a urinary stricture associated with a venereal infection which he has discussed with the surgeon John Hunter. |
6 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2782] | Addressee | Mr J. Spens |
| [PERS ID:2782] | Patient | Mr J. Spens |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:526] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr John Hunter |
| [PERS ID:2783] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr Potts |
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 | London | London and South-East | England | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
Mr J Spens.
Dear Sir
I am extremely concerned for your
present distress and there is no body can be more desirous
to relieve it than I am but at present I find it very difficult
for me to give you advice. You have now advised with
several gentleman of judgement and experience who have also
the advantage over me of being upon the spot and of knowing
by the hour the circumstances of the Case. In such a si¬
tuation I cannot advise with any confidence and must ab¬
solutely leave ↑you↑ to be guided by these gentlemen as I would do
my self was was I in your situation. But that you may not
think me either negligent or averse to serve you I shall give
you some opinions which I would have you communicate
to your surgeons with this declaration on my part that I
give an opinion only and no positive judgement.
Though I can trust very entirely to the judgement of your
surgeons and therefore believe from that all virulency from your
late infection is entirely gone but it was not on any contrary
supposition that I proposed the Mercurial injection, which
indeed may do no service but I am persuaded can do no harm
[Page 2]
and in the case of an urethra s disposed to Spasms and stric¬
tures I have found benefit from an injection of oil frequently
employed and I have found it usefull in obviating the irritation
of bougies.
I dare not against the opinion of the gentleman concerned
dissuade you from the use of Bougies and I believe they may
be in certain certain circumstances absolutely necessary to
you; but I am however persuaded that they have done you
harm and in my opinion should be used no further than
necessity requires. Your Suppressions of urine seem
to me to depend on Spasm rather than proper Stricture
and therefore less foundation for distension of the urethra than
in many other cases. I am very well pleased with
John Hunters prescription of Cicuta, hope it may be of
service and can do no harm. In the present irritable
state of your urethra I am not fond of your using any of
my Balsamic medicines but the time may come when you
can abstain from the use of bougies that the balsamics
may be again usefull to you. They are the medicines
I would chiefly depend upon for Strengthening the urethra
[Page 3]
and was you more free of Spasms I should not be so much
↑afraid↑ of stopping your gleet as Mr Pott is.
We are by no means infallible guides and men sometimes
suffer by our mistakes but still it is the safest and surest for
every one to follow implicitely the advice of those who have the
best pretensions to judgement, experience & probity. I believe
you are in such hands and I advise you to do as they Shall
direct. Wishing ↑you↑ most earnestly all possible relief. I am,
most sincerely
Dear Sir
Your faithfull and
most obedient Servant
William Cullen
Edinburgh 26th August
1782
Diplomatic Text
Mr J Spens.
Dear Sir
I am extremely concerned for your
present distress and there is no body can be more desirous
to relieve it than I am but at present I find it very difficult
for me to give you advice. You have now advised with
several gentleman of judgement and experience who have also
the advantage over me of being upon the spot and of knowing
by the hour the circumstances of the Case. In such a si¬
tuation I cannot advise with any confidence and must ab¬
solutely leave ↑you↑ to be guided by these gentlemen as I would do
my self was was I in your situation. But that you may not
think me either negligent or averse to serve you I shall give
you some opinions which I would have you communicate
to your surgeons with this declaration on my part that I
give an opinion only and no positive judgement.
Though I can trust very entirely to the judgement of your
surgeons and therefore believe from that all virulency from your
late infection is entirely gone but it was not on any contrary
supposition that I proposed the Mercurial injection, which
indeed may do no service but I am persuaded can do no harm
[Page 2]
and in the case of an urethra s disposed to Spasms and stric¬
tures I have found benefit from an injection of oil frequently
employed and I have found it usefull in obviating the irritation
of bougies.
I dare not against the opinion of the gentleman concerned
dissuade you from the use of Bougies and I believe they may
be in certain certain circumstances absolutely necessary to
you; but I am however persuaded that they have done you
harm and in my opinion should be used no further than
necessity requires. Your Suppressions of urine seem
to me to depend on Spasm rather than proper Stricture
and therefore less foundation for distension of the urethra than
in many other cases. I am very well pleased with
John Hunters prescription of Cicuta, hope it may be of
service and can do no harm. In the present irritable
state of your urethra I am not fond of your using any of
my Balsamic medicines but the time may come when you
can abstain from the use of bougies that the balsamics
may be again usefull to you. They are the medicines
I would chiefly depend upon for Strengthening the urethra
[Page 3]
and was you more free of Spasms I should not be so much
↑afraid↑ of stopping your gleet as Mr Pott is.
We are by no means infallible guides and men sometimes
suffer by our mistakes but still it is the safest and surest for
every one to follow implicitely the advice of those who have the
best pretensions to judgement, experience & probity. I believe
you are in such hands and I advise you to do as they Shall
direct. Wishing ↑you↑ most earnestly all possible relief. I am,
most sincerely
Dear Sir
Your faithfull and
most obedient Servant
William Cullen
Edin.r 26th Aug.
1782
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