The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:869] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mrs Maddie(?) Fordyce (Patient) / 19? January 1774 / (Outgoing)
Reply with of directions for Mrs Fordyce in the form of a retained, loose corrected draft in Cullen's own hand Cullen believes that 'the disorder is an hysteric affection'.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 2 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 869 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/135 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 19? January 1774 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply with of directions for Mrs Fordyce in the form of a retained, loose corrected draft in Cullen's own hand Cullen believes that 'the disorder is an hysteric affection'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:11] |
Case of Mrs Fordyce diagnosed as having 'an Hysteric affection'. |
4 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:390] | Patient | Mrs Maddie(?) Fordyce |
| [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 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred | |
| Destination of Letter | Nairn | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mrs Fordyce
I have again considered this Case at great lei¬
sure and am still of the same opinion as before that
the disorder is an hysteric affection. The many and long
intervals it has admitted of, make it certain that there
is no topical organic disorder and that it must be ↑as↑ it
has certainly been a pure Spasmodic affection. On this
view there is no certain relief but from Opiates and I am
perswaded that these carried to a due degree will always
give relief. Some other antispasmodics and Carminatives
may contribute a little but it is a very little only.
In the use of Opiates in this Case there are three
circumstances to be attended to.
The first is the Costiveness they are liable to induce
↑it↑ which Mrs Fordyce is naturally disposed to and if I
mistake not must have been found on to have at least a
share in bringing on her attacks. There is nothing there
fore more to be attended to than the preventing this Costive¬
ness. The Andersons Pills may answer the purpose but
it is rare for persons to be constant ↑enough↑ in employing them
for removing preventing rather than removing the Costive¬
ness. During the whole time of her pregnancy Mrs Fordyce
Should hardly go one day and never two without a stool
or the taking of her laxative, & this is more especially
to be attended to when she is taking Opiates
I agree to the use of the Andersons Pills chiefly be¬
[Page 2]
cause She is in the habit of them but I have found [the?]
frequent use of them very troublesome to pregnant [Women?]
and I would prefer Cream of Tartar, flowers of [Sulphur?]
or Manna or these combined as they may be found to an¬
swer and if it can be had & Mrs Fordyce can take it the
Castor Oil is perhaps the best of all.
The other circumstance to be attended to in the
use of Opiates is the presence of Fever. If pain
considerable I think Opiates are allowable tho Some
degree of fever is present and when it is any ways {illeg}
that the pain is Spasmodic and not inflammatory [there?]
is no doubt in the matter but I own that all this [requires?]
some Skill and discretion which however must be [trusted?]
to persons on the Spot. In the present Case I would
judge from the accounts given me that the feverishness
Supervenes but not immediately upon the Spasmodic
attack and that it is rather a Sign of the pains going
of and therefore it is unnecessary to urge the Opiates
any further.
Diplomatic Text
For Mrs Fordyce
I have again considered this Case at great lei¬
sure and am still of the same opinion as before that
the disorder is an hysteric affection. The many and long
intervals it has admitted of, make it certain that there
is no topical organic disorder and that it must be ↑as↑ it
has certainly been a pure Spasmodic affection. On this
view there is no certain relief but from Opiates and I am
perswaded that these carried to a due degree will always
give relief. Some other antispasmodics and Carminatives
may contribute a little but it is a very little only.
In the use of Opiates in this Case there are three
circumstances to be attended to.
The first is the Costiveness they are liable to induce
↑it↑ which Mrs Fordyce is naturally disposed to and if I
mistake not must have been found on to have at least a
share in bringing on her attacks. There is nothing there
fore more to be attended to than the preventing this Costive¬
ness. The Andersons Pills may answer the purpose but
it is rare for persons to be constant ↑enough↑ in employing them
for removing preventing rather than removing the Costive¬
ness. During the whole time of her pregnancy Mrs Fordyce
Should hardly go one day and never two without a stool
or the taking of her laxative, & this is more especially
to be attended to when she is taking Opiates
I agree to the use of the Andersons Pills chiefly be¬
[Page 2]
cause She is in the habit of them but I have found [the?]
frequent use of them very troublesome to pregnant [Women?]
and I would prefer Cream of Tartar, flowers of [Sulphur?]
or Manna or these combined as they may be found to an¬
swer and if it can be had & Mrs Fordyce can take it the
Castor Oil is perhaps the best of all.
The other circumstance to be attended to in the
use of Opiates is the presence of Fever. If pain
considerable I think Opiates are allowable tho Some
degree of fever is present and when it is any ways {illeg}
that the pain is Spasmodic and not inflammatory [there?]
is no doubt in the matter but I own that all this [requires?]
some Skill and discretion which however must be [trusted?]
to persons on the Spot. In the present Case I would
judge from the accounts given me that the feverishness
Supervenes but not immediately upon the Spasmodic
attack and that it is rather a Sign of the pains going
of and therefore it is unnecessary to urge the Opiates
any further.
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