Cullen

The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

 

[ID:792] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mrs Jean Campbell (Campble, of Silvercraigs) (Patient) / 14 June 1766 / (Outgoing)

Reply headed 'Advice for Mrs Campbell', neat draft bearing initials 'G G' and 'I H' [Dr. John Hope] (but not their signatures, so possibly a copy made by a secretary). This is a joint consultation annotated by Cullen to indicate his editorial suggestions [see Letter ID:793 which was the cover letter Cullen sent Hope]. Gives directions for Mrs Campbell's care given her history of miscarriages, and suggests that 'if for a year or two she did not fall with child, we can take upon us to promise her a perfect recovery'.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 792
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/2/60
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date14 June 1766
Annotation None
TypeAuthorial original
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe Yes
Regimen Yes
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply headed 'Advice for Mrs Campbell', neat draft bearing initials 'G G' and 'I H' [Dr. John Hope] (but not their signatures, so possibly a copy made by a secretary). This is a joint consultation annotated by Cullen to indicate his editorial suggestions [see Letter ID:793 which was the cover letter Cullen sent Hope]. Gives directions for Mrs Campbell's care given her history of miscarriages, and suggests that 'if for a year or two she did not fall with child, we can take upon us to promise her a perfect recovery'.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:121]
Case of Mrs Campbell who has had several miscarriages and who is diagnosed as having a 'weak uterine system'.
5


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:303]PatientMrs Jean Campbell (Campble, of Silvercraigs)
[PERS ID:483]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr G. G.
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:312]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr John Hope
[PERS ID:483]Supplemental AuthorDr G. G.
[PERS ID:312]Supplemental AuthorDr John Hope

Places linked to this document

Role in document Specific Place Settlements / Areas Region Country Global Region Confidence
Place of Writing Edinburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain
Destination of Letter Inveraray West Highlands Scotland Europe inferred

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Advice for Mrs Campble


The Headach and present weakness, both consequences of the late miscarriage, will
with a little time be removed. ↑✍N.L.↑ ✍We are sorry to observe that we cannot flatter our¬
selves that this will be the case with respect to the weakness of the uterine vessles
even tho' the most approved medicines be regularly taken. When the Uterus
is weakened to such a degree, as in the present case, and the habit of Abortion in¬
duced, the {illeg} ↑✍chief↑✍ hopes of it being restored to a proper degree of strength is from rest. ✍↑X↑
As the lady is young and naturally strong, if for a year or two she did not fall
with child, we can take upon us to promise her a perfect recovery, to which an observ¬
ance of the following prescriptions will greatly contribute.


1no. That she take twice a day the size of a Nutmeg of the strengthening Electuary. --
washing down each dose with a glass or two of the Hartfel-Spaw Water, and that she
continue both one and t'other for two ↑✍X 2↑✍ months, repeating the same course after an inter¬
ruption of six weeks.


2o. In this interval of six weeks we recommend to her the use of Lime-water to the
quantity of a mutchkin and a half per day.


3o. There is nothing appears to us more proper to restore the weakened Uterus to a due
degree of strength than the daily use of the cold Bath, the best manner of taking
which is plunging the whole body at once into salt water, except in very bad
weather when it will be necessary to bath at home either ↑✍∧↑✍ in a tub or with
the machine. 1




[Page 2]


4o. The directions formerly ✍↑X 3↑✍ given with respect to meat and drink are still most proper.


5o. It will greatly contribute to the success of the above remedies that Mrs Campbel take
daily exercise and be much in the open air. The best sort of exercise at first
is sailing or an easy Machine, 2 but afterwards when she is able to bear it riding
on horseback is by far the best.


6o. If at any time during the above course there be appearances of unusual ful¬
ness which probably may occur about next spring, if not sooner, it will be
proper to let ↑✍some✍↑ blood. ✍*✍


7o. When ✍If ✍Mrs Campbel shall fall with Child, it will be prudent that during her whole
pregnancy she lie almost constantly above the bed, and be extremely cautious not to
risk anything by any unguarded motions: further it will be very proper that
she be blooded to about eight ounces at or before the eighth week, and at any
time afterwards when the most distant ↑any↑ appearances of abortion.


8o. If at any time↑while ↑she↑ is taking the above medicines↑✍ she shall become costive a small quantity of Rhubarb should be
taken daily with the Electuary or Lime-water, but during pregnancy the medi¬ (↑✍flores✍↑)
icine (↑✍sulphuris↑)
✍ formerly recommended is the most proper.


9no- #


* 6toa if at any monthly evacuation there is appearance
of too plentiful a discharge in that event Mrs
Campble should confine her self to her bed
and in general at evry return of this evacuation
she ought to be particularly careful in
avoiding motion or being heated.




[Page 3]
The strengthening Electuary

Take two ounces of finely powdered Peruvian bark and one drachm of Chalybeate salts. Add a sufficient quantity of Rose syrup and let it be artfully made into an Electuary.


The Hartfel-spar-water should be taken at first to the quantity of half a gill twice a day
↑✍and thereafter that quantity↑ ✍prudently increase✍d✍that quantity to half a mutchken twice a day.
The stomach should be reconciled to ↑✍the↑Lime-water in the same continuous manner.
For several weeks Mrs Campbel will not be in a condition to bath in the sea, at
the same time it would be unlucky should the summer be past before she begin.


# it gives us pleasure to think that if the
above directions be ↑observed↑ complyed wth parti¬
cularly the first that Mrs Campble
will be the Mother of many Children
and after the first will probably enjoy
as good health and be in as little
danger of her present misfortune as
formerly.

Edinburgh 14 June 1766

Signed
G G
J. H.

Notes:

1: Context suggests this refers to the use of the indoor shower-bath, consisting of a tub suspended from the ceiling by ropes and pullies which Cullen frequently promotes.

2: General term for a horse-drawn vehicle.

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Advice for Mrs Campble


The Headach and present weakness, both consequences of the late miscarriage, will
with a little time be removed. ↑✍N.L.↑ ✍We are sorry to observe that we cannot flatter our¬
selves that this will be the case with respect to the weakness of the uterine vessles
even tho' the most approved medicines be regularly taken. When the Uterus
is weakened to such a degree, as in the present case, and the habit of Abortion in¬
duced, the {illeg} ↑✍chief↑✍ hopes of it being restored to a proper degree of strength is from rest. ✍↑X↑
As the lady is young and naturally strong, if for a year or two she did not fall
with child, we can take upon us to promise her a perfect recovery, to which an observ¬
ance of the following prescriptions will greatly contribute.


1no. That she take twice a day the size of a Nutmeg of the strengthening Electuary. --
washing down each dose with a glass or two of the Hartfel-Spaw Water, and that she
continue both one and t'other for two ↑✍X 2↑✍ months, repeating the same course after an inter¬
ruption of six weeks.


2o. In this interval of six weeks we recommend to her the use of Lime-water to the
quantity of a mutchkin and a half per day.


3o. There is nothing appears to us more proper to restore the weakened Uterus to a due
degree of strength than the daily use of the cold Bath, the best manner of taking
which is plunging the whole body at once into salt water, except in very bad
weather when it will be necessary to bath at home either ↑✍∧↑✍ in a tub or with
the machine. 1




[Page 2]


4o. The directions formerly ✍↑X 3↑✍ given with respect to meat and drink are still most proper.


5o. It will greatly contribute to the success of the above remedies that Mrs Campbel take
daily exercise and be much in the open air. The best sort of exercise at first
is sailing or an easy Machine, 2 but afterwards when she is able to bear it riding
on horseback is by far the best.


6o. If at any time during the above course there be appearances of unusual ful¬
ness which probably may occur about next spring, if not sooner, it will be
proper to let ↑✍some✍↑ blood. ✍*✍


7o. When ✍If ✍Mrs Campbel shall fall with Child, it will be prudent that during her whole
pregnancy she lie almost constantly above the bed, and be extremely cautious not to
risk anything by any unguarded motions: further it will be very proper that
she be blooded to about eight ounces at or before the eighth week, and at any
time afterwards when the most distant ↑any↑ appearances of abortion.


8o. If at any time↑while ↑she↑ is taking the above medicines↑✍ she shall become costive a small quantity of Rhubarb should be
taken daily with the Electuary or Lime-water, but during pregnancy the medi¬ (↑✍flores✍↑)
icine (↑✍sulphuris↑)
✍ formerly recommended is the most proper.


9no- #


* 6toa if at any monthly evacuation there is appearance
of too plentiful a discharge in that event Mrs
Campble should confine her self to her bed
and in general at evry return of this evacuation
she ought to be particularly careful in
avoiding motion or being heated.




[Page 3]
The strengthening Electuary


℞ Pulv. subtil Cort. Peruv. ℥ij
Sal. Chalyb. ʒi
[Start of margin text]X4[End of margin text]Syrup. e Ros sice q. s. F. s. a. Electuarium.


The Hartfel-spar-water should be taken at first to the quantity of half a gill twice a day
↑✍and thereafter that quantity↑ ✍prudently increase✍d✍that quantity to half a mutchken twice a day.
The stomach should be reconciled to ↑✍the↑Lime-water in the same continuous manner.
For several weeks Mrs Campbel will not be in a condition to bath in the sea, at
the same time it would be unlucky should the summer be past before she begin.


# it gives us pleasure to think that if the
above directions be ↑observed↑ complyed wth parti¬
cularly the first that Mrs Campble
will be the Mother of many Children
and after the first will probably enjoy
as good health and be in as little
danger of her present misfortune as
formerly.

Edinb 14 June 1766

Signed
G G
J. H.

Notes:

1: Context suggests this refers to the use of the indoor shower-bath, consisting of a tub suspended from the ceiling by ropes and pullies which Cullen frequently promotes.

2: General term for a horse-drawn vehicle.

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