The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[Case ID:2567]: Case of Dr William Cullen. This links together some significant instances where Cullen mentions in passing his own illhealth, and letters in which his son Henry, standing in to respond to patients, mentions his father's increasing indisposition and terminal decline from late 1789 (not fully comprehensive).
Documents in this case
8 document(s) found in this case.
| DOC ID | Summary | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[DOC ID:571]  |
Reply, for 'Mrs Wilson C[oncerning] Dr Wilson'. Cullen is still of the opinion that the case is one of gout, and declines to comment on her ailments until he has heard from her husband. Machine scribal copy; a postscript adds 'Being at present much distressed with the Influenza I have been obliged to employ an Emmanuensis'. | 8 June 1782 | |||
|
[DOC ID:5229] |
Letter concerning the case of Mr Vane. Reply to letter 2780, and was replied to immediately. Cullen describes how 20 years ago he suffered from palpitations, and continued to do so for two or three years. | 30? March 1786 | |||
|
[DOC ID:5741] |
Reply to Ensign McPherson concerning his own case. Cullen apologises for delay in replying as he was "seized with an ailment which has ever since made me very unfit for any business". | 6 November 1788 | |||
|
[DOC ID:3619] |
Letter from George Burdon to Henry Cullen, describing his own case and referring to Henry's father's indisposition. Mr Burdon has tried salt of tartar dissolved in water, lime water, spermaceti and gum arabic, and is now taking bearberry leaf powder. | 12 January 1789 | |||
|
[DOC ID:3452] |
Letter from Alexander Abernethie to 'Dr Cullen junior' (presumably Henry Cullen) on the case of Lady Banff. 'The advice...appears to me...very judicious, and therefore probably such as your Father, if his Health had permitted would have given me'. | 16 January 1789 | |||
|
[DOC ID:5925] |
Reply, 'Capt Enys', by Henry Cullen, who explains that his father received 'your letter of the 30th' but has been unable to reply due to a 'severe indisposition which has become daily worse'. | 9 January 1790 | |||
|
[DOC ID:5926] |
Reply, 'Mr Burdon', written by Henry Cullen, who explains that his father received 'your letter of the 22d currt.' but that he 'was and still is so very much indisposed as to be unable to do business'. | 9 January 1790 | |||
|
[DOC ID:5927] |
Reply by Henry Cullen titled 'Rev Mr Surtees'. The patient's ailment seems 'entirely constitutional', so may be impossible to remove entirely. He gives dietary and exercise advice, and instructions for bathing using the shower bath (not a numbered regimen, however), with a prescription. Henry explains that his father received 'yours of the 9th Decr', but that 'at the time he was extremely indisposed, and his ailment has gained so much ground upon him as to render him at present incapable of attending to business of any kind'. Henry's remark, 'Could I have conversed with my Father on the subject' may imply that Cullen can no longer speak. | 11 January 1790 | |||
People involved in this case
16 found.
| PERS ID | Full Name |
|---|---|
| [PERS ID: 3180] | Dr Alexander Abernethie |
| [PERS ID: 3977] | Dr Daniel Bridges |
| [PERS ID: 4763] | Mr George Burdon |
| [PERS ID: 1] | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID: 544] | Dr Henry Cullen (Harry, Dr Henry, "the young doctor"
) |
| [PERS ID: 5642] | Captain John Enys |
| [PERS ID: 82] | Mr William Ingham |
| [PERS ID: 5630] | Miss Mackay |
| [PERS ID: 5840] | Ensign Robert Campbell MacPherson (of Bialidmore or Bellidmore near Ruthven, Captain McPherson) |
| [PERS ID: 5125] | Lady Jean Ogilvie (Lady Banff) |
| [PERS ID: 3966] | Dr Joshua Sampson (Samson) |
| [PERS ID: 118] | Dr Richard Story |
| [PERS ID: 4333] | Reverend Matthew Surtees |
| [PERS ID: 5892] | Mr Vane |
| [PERS ID: 828] | Dr Alexander Wilson |
| [PERS ID: 2992] | Mrs Agnes Wilson |
Unique Places linked to this Case
10 found.
| Type | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Forglen | Turriff | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Specific | Bialidmore / Bellidmore / Bellesville | Pitmain (Kingussie) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Place | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Hull | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Penrith | North-West | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Specific | University College | Oxford | East | England | Europe | inferred |
| Place | Sheffield | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Turriff | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Places and role of place
13 found.
| Type | Role | Specific Place | Village/Town/City (aka) | Region | Country | Continent | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | Place of Writing | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Place of Writing | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Writing | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Specific | Place of Writing | Forglen | Turriff | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Hull | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Penrith | North-West | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Specific | Destination of Letter | University College | Oxford | East | England | Europe | inferred |
| Place | Destination of Letter | Sheffield | North-East | England | Europe | inferred | |
| Specific | Destination of Letter | Bialidmore / Bellidmore / Bellesville | Pitmain (Kingussie) | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
| Place | Place of Handstamp | Newcastle upon Tyne | North-East | England | Europe | certain | |
| Place | Place of Handstamp | Turriff | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain |
