The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:700] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Mr James Parlane / Regarding: Reverend William Thom (of Govan) (Patient), Mrs Hunter (Patient) / 23 January 1783 / (Outgoing)
Reply to the Glasgow surgeon James Parlane concerning Mr Thom, who is 'threatened with a Phthisis'. Cullen apologises for not writing sooner, but explains that when the letter arrived he was 'so much indisposed by the fits of Cholera that I could not answer it in course'.
- 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 | 700 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/15/187 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 23 January 1783 |
| 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 the Glasgow surgeon James Parlane concerning Mr Thom, who is 'threatened with a Phthisis'. Cullen apologises for not writing sooner, but explains that when the letter arrived he was 'so much indisposed by the fits of Cholera that I could not answer it in course'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1385] |
Case of Rev. William Thom, a Cullen family friend, who is weakened by a very severe, persistent cough. |
4 |
| [Case ID:2472] |
Case of Mrs Hunter, who is now very well. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2932] | Addressee | Mr James Parlane |
| [PERS ID:2933] | Patient | Mrs Hunter |
| [PERS ID:2922] | Patient | Reverend William Thom (of Govan) |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:2932] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Mr James Parlane |
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
Mr Parlane Concerning Mr Thom
Your letter of the 20th. was put into my hand
yesterday but I was then so much indisposed by one of
the fits of Cholera that I could not answer it in course.
Your letter is very clear & distinct your patient
is threatened with a Phthisis but as there is no appearance
of purulency I think it is not confirmed and though there
were I think it is not desperate. In the mean time
I must say that your practice has been most judicious
and I think successful for had it not been for the mea¬
sures that you employed the case must have been despe¬
rate before now and for what is to come I shall give
you the best advice I can & shall be ready to mend it as
often as you shall be pleased to give me an opportunity
The Bleedings you have practiced were cer¬
tainly very necessary but they cannot now be made so
freely as before though still when Pleuritic pains &
difficult breathing with hardness of pulse occurr I would
[Page 2]
still think of small bleeding necessary & safe. Blistering
has certainly been of great service to Mr. Thom and when
any obstinate stitch occurrs they are still the remedy to be
depended on though you may sometimes save it by a dry
Cupping. If the pains are used to come always in one place
& especially on one side it will be proper to have an
issue constantly open upon that part and if there is no
such part pointed out I think it will be useful to
have an issue opened behind the Shoulder or in one
Arm. In a case of this kind it is of the utmost consequence
to avoid cold & unless that is done all our other labour
may be lost. Let him therefore wear a flannel shirt
be otherways always warmly Cloathed, go abroad as little
as possible & in frost not at all. Violent exercise
will be pernicious & even ordinary Riding unless
the weather is very mild there is more harm to be
apprehended from cold than benefit to be expected from
Exercise. I have only to add ↑that↑ Cough gives very
restless nights an Anodyne should be employed and
[Page 3]
if there is any occasion to Laudan{illeg} {illeg}
gerioum will answer the purpose. {illeg}
the one or other take care to obviate a {illeg}
doubt or question any thing now {illeg}
freely command
Edinburgh 22d.
January 1783
Notes:
1: Cullen is probably repeating here that he has been indisposed by illness (see opening of letter).
Diplomatic Text
Mr Parlane C Mr Thom
Your letter of the 20th. was put into my hand
yesterday but I was then so much indisposed by one of
the fits of Cholera that I could not answer it in course.
Your letter is very clear & distinct your patient
is threatened with a Phthisis but as there is no appearance
of purulency I think it is not confirmed and though there
were I think it is not desperate. In the mean time
I must say that your practice has been most judicious
and I think successful for had it not been for the mea¬
sures that you employed the case must have been despe¬
rate before now and for what is to come I shall give
you the best advice I can & shall be ready to mend it as
often as you shall be pleased to give me an opportunity
The Bleedings you have practiced were cer¬
tainly very necessary but they cannot now be made so
freely as before though still when Pleuritic pains &
difficult breathing with hardness of pulse occurr I would
[Page 2]
still think of small bleeding necessary & safe. Blistering
has certainly been of great service to Mr. Thom and when
any obstinate stitch occurrs they are still the remedy to be
depended on though you may sometimes save it by a dry
Cupping. If the pains are used to come always in one place
& especially on one side it will be proper to have an
issue constantly open upon that part and if there is no
such part pointed out I think it will be useful to
have an issue opened behind the Shoulder or in one
Arm. In a case of this kind it is of the utmost consequence
to avoid cold & unless that is done all our other labour
may be lost. Let him therefore wear a flannel shirt
be otherways always warmly Cloathed, go abroad as little
as possible & in frost not at all. Violent exercise
will be pernicious & even ordinary Riding unless
the weather is very mild there is more harm to be
apprehended from cold than benefit to be expected from
Exercise. I have only to add ↑that↑ Cough gives very
restless nights an Anodyne should be employed and
[Page 3]
if there is any occasion to Laudan{illeg} {illeg}
gerioum will answer the purpose. {illeg}
the one or other take care to obviate a {illeg}
doubt or question any thing now {illeg}
freely command
Edinr. 22d.
January 1783
Notes:
1: Cullen is probably repeating here that he has been indisposed by illness (see opening of letter).
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