Cullen

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

 

[ID:93] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Miss Beckie Pringle (Patient), Miss Jeanie Pringle (Patient) / 25 May 1770 / (Outgoing)

Reply providing advice for Miss Beckie Pringle and Miss Jeanie Pringle, as well as an advice in passing for Beckie Pringle's (unnamed and unnumbered) sons. Give recommendations for both sisters to travel to Buxton and includes two recipes; strengthening and laxative, the latter added on 29th May 1770.

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 93
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/1/88
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date25 May 1770
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe Yes
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply providing advice for Miss Beckie Pringle and Miss Jeanie Pringle, as well as an advice in passing for Beckie Pringle's (unnamed and unnumbered) sons. Give recommendations for both sisters to travel to Buxton and includes two recipes; strengthening and laxative, the latter added on 29th May 1770.
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:113]
Case of Miss Beckie Pringle who, along with her sister, is advised over taking the waters at Buxton for a bowel complaint.
1
[Case ID:114]
Case of Miss Jeanie Pringle who has a cold and who, along with her sister, is advised on how to take the waters at Buxton.
1


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:1180]PatientMiss Jeanie Pringle
[PERS ID:58]PatientMiss Beckie Pringle
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:58]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMiss Beckie Pringle
[PERS ID:1179]Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend Pringle
[PERS ID:1180]Patient's Relative / Spouse / FriendMiss Jeanie Pringle

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
Therapeutic Recommendation Buxton Midlands England Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
For Miss B:: Pringle


It is now a very proper season for the Buxton waters but
in travelling thither Miss Pringle should make no great haste
as fatigue will always do harm.


It will be proper for her to carry along a strengthening mix¬
ture ordered below in case she should have any return of the
Disorder in her bowels.


When she has got to Brixton it will not be proper for her to
follow any part of the preparation commonly there advised by
bleeding vomiting or purging but after resting a Day or two she
may immediately begin to Drink the waters.


She should begin by Drinking an ordinary wine glass full
before breakfast, two such glasses between Dinner and breakfast
& three such glasses between Dinner & supper. She should contin¬
ue at this quantity for some Days and according as she finds the
water agree with her to increase the Dose by Degrees but never
to go further than a gill & half or at most half an English pint for
a Dose. When she is to take more than one Dose at a time as in the
forenoons and afternoons she must always allow from a quarter
to half an hour to pass between the Draughts. Of the 3 warm wat¬
ers at Buxton
I think that of the Bath the fittest for Miss P: but if
she has any dislike of that she may Drinke the St Anne


After she has Drunk the water for a Day or two she may go
into the bath. At first she should remain in the bath not less than
five nor longer than ten minutes & afterwards the time is to be
regulated by her feelings. If the warmth is agreeable & she feels
herself neither fatigued nor exhausted by being ten minutes in the
bath the time may be practicated to 15 minutes or 20 but if she
feels



[Page 2]

any fatigue feebliness after such trials she must at least
shorten the Time or pepphaps give it up altogether. One
circumstance should particularly Determine her. If she finds the
bathing soften and smooth her skin I would continue it as long
as she bears it easily. It is common for persons to go into the bath
pretty early in the morning but I think this is not so safe for per¬
sons that are to remain long in it & at least if miss P bathes in
the morning she should immediately return to her chamber and
stay till mi↑d↑day. But I would have miss P try bathing at 6 at
night {illeg} to keep her chamber for the rest of the evening. At what
ever time she takes the bath she must be immediately well
Dryed & put on her ordinary clothes as Sweating is by no means
a remedy for her. At first Miss Pr: shou↑l↑d take the bath
only every third Day but afterwards more or less frequen¬
tly as ↑s↑he bears it. When she is about to quit buxton the
Bathings should be both less frequent & the same time she
remains in the bath should be shorter so that at least
it may be a single Dip. The time of her remaining at
Buxton must be according to the water and bathing agreeing
with her and the weather she meets. The mixtures of the
water will by no means compensate her being exposed to
a long tract of wet & cold weather. Her Diet at Buxton
should be the same as here. The more Exercise she can
take in a cariage the better. But all bodily exercise in the
least fatiguing will Do harm

Edinburgh 25th May
1770
W Cullen.



[Page 3]
For Miss Beckie Pringle

Take six ounces - or as needed - of cinnamon water, two ounces of Diacodium Syrup, 160 drops of liquid laudanum and mix it. Label it: Strengthening mixture, two tablespoonfulls for a Dose at bedtime.

25 May 1770
WC ---
For Miss J. Pringle


If Miss Pringle continues to have any plain symptoms of Cold she should never
again lose a little blood
& put of the journey for a day or two. If the symptoms of
cold are very inconsiderable an easy journey will rather be of service to her.


When she gets to Buxton she should lose a little blood before she begins to
drink
the water & take care at the same time that her belly is regular.


She may drink the waters with all the same cautions as advised for Miss Bec¬
kie only she should take them cooler & be more slow in increasing the quantity
& hardly ever go above a gill sixtimes a day. In bathing Miss Jeanie's
management must be very different. She must use the Buxton bath as a
cold one & not remain in it above a minute or two or to make one or two x come
out again immediately. This she should do in the morning only & may con¬
tinue to do so for several mornings together but after she has done so she must
have a bath elsewhere gradually increasing the cold of it till she can take
it of the ordinary cold of a common Spring.


During this course her Diet should be very light & cool taking no fish &
little meat but as much Vegetable as her stomach easily digests. Her
drink should be water with a very little wine. If she is any ways disposed
to be costive she may drink small beer if her stomach digest it & if the costive¬
ness
goes far she may take such a medicine as I have ordered below.


Moderate walking & being much in the fresh air is very proper but
her walking must be very moderate & a good deal of exercise in the
carriage is better for her.

WC.
Edinburgh 25 May 1770
For Miss J. Pringle

Take an ounce of each Crystal Tartar, flowers of Sulphur, Lenitive Electuary made up according to the London Pharmacopoeia and a sufficient quantity of rose syrup in order to make an electuary. Label it: Laxative Electuary a teaspoonful for a dose.

29 May
1770
WC

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
For Miss B:: Pringle


It is now a very proper season for the Buxton waters but
in travelling thither Miss Pringle should make no great haste
as fatigue will always do harm.


It will be proper for her to carry along a strengthening mix¬
ture ordered below in case she should have any return of the
Disorder in her bowels.


When she has got to Brixton it will not be proper for her to
follow any part of the preparation commonly there advised by
bleeding vomiting or purging but after resting a Day or two she
may immediately begin to Drink the waters.


She should begin by Drinking an ordinary wine glass full
before breakfast, two such glasses between Dinner and breakfast
& three such glasses between Dinner & supper. She should contin¬
ue at this quantity for some Days and according as she finds the
water agree with her to increase the Dose by Degrees but never
to go further than a gill & half or at most half an English pint for
a Dose. When she is to take more than one Dose at a time as in the
forenoons and afternoons she must always allow from a quarter
to half an hour to pass between the Draughts. Of the 3 warm wat¬
ers at Buxton
I think that of the Bath the fittest for Miss P: but if
she has any dislike of that she may Drinke the St Anne


After she has Drunk the water for a Day or two she may go
into the bath. At first she should remain in the bath not less than
five nor longer than ten minutes & afterwards the time is to be
regulated by her feelings. If the warmth is agreeable & she feels
herself neither fatigued nor exhausted by being ten minutes in the
bath the time may be practicated to 15 minutes or 20 but if she
feels



[Page 2]

any fatigue feebliness after such trials she must at least
shorten the Time or pepphaps give it up altogether. One
circumstance should particularly Determine her. If she finds the
bathing soften and smooth her skin I would continue it as long
as she bears it easily. It is common for persons to go into the bath
pretty early in the morning but I think this is not so safe for per¬
sons that are to remain long in it & at least if miss P bathes in
ye morning she should immediately return to her chamber and
stay till mi↑d↑day. But I would have miss P try bathing at 6 at
night {illeg} to keep her chamber for the rest of the evening. At what
ever time she takes the bath she must be immediately well
Dryed & put on her ordinary clothes as Sweating is by no means
a remedy for her. At first Miss Pr: shou↑l↑d take the bath
only every third Day but afterwards more or less frequen¬
tly as ↑s↑he bears it. When she is about to quit buxton the
Bathings should be both less frequent & the same time she
remains in the bath should be shorter so that at least
it may be a single Dip. The time of her remaining at
Buxton must be according to the water and bathing agreeing
with her and the weather she meets. The mixtures of the
water will by no means compensate her being exposed to
a long tract of wet & cold weather. Her Diet at Buxton
should be the same as here. The more Exercise she can
take in a cariage the better. But all bodily exercise in the
least fatiguing will Do harm

Edin 25th May
1770
W Cullen.



[Page 3]
For Miss Beckie Pringle


Aq: Cinnam. s.v. ℥vi Syr Diacod ℥ii Laud liq gtt.
CLX ℳ Signa Strenthgening mixture two tablespoon¬
fulls for a Dose at bedtime.

25 May 1770
WC ---
For Miss J. Pringle


If Miss Pringle continues to have any plain symptoms of Cold she should never
again lose a little blood
& put of the journey for a day or two. If the symptoms of
cold are very inconsiderable an easy journey will rather be of service to her.


When she gets to Buxton she should lose a little blood before she begins to
drink
the water & take care at the same time that her belly is regular.


She may drink the waters wt all the same cautions as advised for Miss Bec¬
kie only she should take them cooler & be more slow in increasing the quantity
& hardly ever go above a gill sixtimes a day. In bathing Miss Jeanie's
management must be very different. She must use the Buxton bath as a
cold one & not remain in it above a minute or two or to make one or two x come
out again immediately. This she should do in the morning only & may con¬
tinue to do so for several mornings together but after she has done so she must
have a bath elsewhere gradually increasing the cold of it till she can take
it of the ordinary cold of a common Spring.


During this course her Diet should be very light & cool taking no fish &
little meat but as much Vegetable as her stomach easily digests. Her
drink should be water wt a very little wine. If she is any ways disposed
to be costive she may drink small beer if her stomach digest it & if the costive¬
ness
goes far she may take such a medicine as I have ordered below.


Moderate walking & being much in the fresh air is very proper but
her walking must be very moderate & a good deal of exercise in the
carriage is better for her.

WC.
Edinr 25 May 1770
For Miss J. Pringle


Crystall Tartar. pulv. flor. Sulphur. Elect. Lenitive. Ph. Lond. @ ℥j
Syr. rosar. [Sol.?] q.s. ut f. Electuarium. Signa Laxative Electuary a tea¬
spoonful for a dose.

29 May
1770
WC

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