The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:1018] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Thomas Stephen / Regarding: Mr James Brander (Patient) / 9 September 1780 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr Brander'. Cullen suspects 'the gouty disposition; altho he has never had a fit nor mentioned to be of Gouty parents'.
- 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 | 1018 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/13/73 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Outgoing |
| Date | 9 September 1780 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Scribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry) |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | Yes |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Reply 'For Mr Brander'. Cullen suspects 'the gouty disposition; altho he has never had a fit nor mentioned to be of Gouty parents'. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:1255] |
Case of Mr James Brander who has had a long-standing stomach disorder since returning from Lisbon. |
3 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:820] | Addressee | Dr Thomas Stephen |
| [PERS ID:818] | Patient | Mr James Brander |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:820] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr Thomas Stephen |
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 | Elgin | East Highlands | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
For Mr Brander
I suspect the gouty disposition; altho
he has never had
a fit nor mentioned to
be of Gouty parents. I have often
known such complaints proceed from such a cause which
I may readily believe to be the case with Mr B. as
no other cause, at least no mark of
viscera obstruction
appears. I give this opinion to direct future obervat¬
ion; but nothing I am to propose will depend absolutely
upon it & Whatever may be the predispondent cause I ascr¬
ibe the symptoms to Atony &
Spasm & these must
be our object. The indications you have made
are judicious; I shall not change your plan but
only make a few remarks on the execution of it.
1. For costiveness the
Aloetics are the most proper. The
Magnesia you can employ for
acidity may answer as a Lax¬
ative but it is too cold for Atonic
bowels & even for acidity
I prefer the other absorbents.
In the Aloetics grow famil¬
iar or inert, or give piles, I recommend the
Ol. ricin. ordered below.
2. In correcting acidity you may employ much larger
doses of absorbents than are usually done. I have a Pat¬
tient now who takes ℥ij of prepared
oyster shells in one day 1
3. When the spasms of the
stomach become violent an
Opiate may be necessary but
is not to be used frequently
& I would try other remedies. I have prescribed one on the
inclosed paper which I have found remarkably effectual
but if the Elix. pp.tat vitriol
is not to be had you may try
the common Elix. proprietat.
--- & sometimes if it can
be had, a teaspoonful of a good æther along with the Elixir.
4. To restore the tone of the stomach you may employ
the bark &
the bitters but much use of them is hurtf¬
ful to gouty stomachs & I find chalybeates safer.
I give you a formula below
[Page 2]
5. Nothing more necessary than free perspiration; the
warm cloathing you advise is most proper: but nothing is of
more use for this than riding on horseback. Every forenoon &cc.
I have no objection to walking often; but find it must be with caut¬
ion & never upon damp ground. This it was perhaps which
prevented his having a regular fit
of the gout which his
former spring fits shewed a disposition to.
6. The Diet you propose is quite proper --- Some animal
food every day is quite necessary but he should avoid the
heavier kinds, or a full meal of any kind. Avoid flat¬
ulent & acesant, but not all, vegetables. Spirits &
water are the only drink free of acescency but if he can
bear a little of the stronger & less fermentable wines
I would keep clear of the Spirits as long as possible.
Take three ounces of the best castor oil, an ounce of Tincture of Senna in accordance with the Edinburgh Pharamacopoeia. Mix. Label: Laxative oil about a table spoonful in the morning for a dose; shaking the Phial very well before pouring it out & swallowing the dose immediately.
Take 2 ounces of prepared Elixir of Vitriol. Label: Stomach Elixir 50 or 60 drops on a bit of sugar washing it down with a little brandy & water ---
Take five grains of powdered Steel etc. washing down with the following Drops ---
Take an ounce each of Tinture of Steel and two ounces of aromatic Tincture. Mix. Label: Stomachic drops; 20 in a glass of water after every dose &c.
Notes:
1: Possibly Anthony Charmier (see Letter ID:1014).
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Brander
I suspect the gouty disposition; altho
he has never had
a fit nor mentioned to
be of Gouty parents. I have often
known such complaints proceed from such a cause which
I may readily believe to be the case with Mr B. as
no other cause, at least no mark of
viscera obstruction
appears. I give this opinion to direct future obervat¬
ion; but nothing I am to propose will depend absolutely
upon it & Whatever may be the predispondent cause I ascr¬
ibe the symptoms to Atony &
Spasm & these must
be our object. The indications you have made
are judicious; I shall not change your plan but
only make a few remarks on the execution of it.
1. For costiveness the
Aloetics are the most proper. The
Magnesia you can employ for
acidity may answer as a Lax¬
ative but it is too cold for Atonic
bowels & even for acidity
I prefer the other absorbents.
In the Aloetics grow famil¬
iar or inert, or give piles, I recommend the
Ol. ricin. ord below.
2. In correcting acidity you may employ much larger
doses of absorbents than are usually done. I have a Pat¬
tient now who takes ℥ij of prepared
oyster shells in one day 1
3. When the spasms of the
stomach become violent an
Opiate may be necessary but
is not to be used frequently
& I would try other remedies. I have prescribed one on the
inclosed paper which I have found remarkably effectual
but if the Elix. pp.tat vitriol
is not to be had you may try
the common Elix. proprietat.
--- & sometimes if it can
be had, a teaspoonful of a good æther along with the Elixir.
4. To restore the tone of the stomach you may employ
the bark &
the bitters but much use of them is hurtf¬
ful to gouty stomachs & I find chalybeates safer.
I give you a formula below
[Page 2]
5. Nothing more necessary than free perspiration; the
warm cloathing you advise is most proper: but nothing is of
more use for this than riding on horseback. Every forenoon &cc.
I have no objection to walking often; but find it must be with caut¬
ion & never upon damp ground. This it was perhaps which
prevented his having a regular fit
of the gout which his
former spring fits shewed a disposition to.
6. The Diet you propose is quite proper --- Some animal
food every day is quite necessary but he should avoid the
heavier kinds, or a full meal of any kind. Avoid flat¬
ulent & acesant, but not all, vegetables. Spirits &
water are the only drink free of acescency but if he can
bear a little of the stronger & less fermentable wines
I would keep clear of the Spirits as long as possible.
℞ Ol. ricin opt. ℥iij Tinct Sen. comp. Ph.Ed. ℥i
ℳ. S. Laxative oil about a tablespoonful in the morning
for a dose; shaking the Phial very well before pouring it
out & swallowing the dose immediately.
℞ Elix. pptt. vitriol ℥ij S. Stomach Elixir 50 or
60 drops on a bit of sugar washing it down with a little
brandy & water ---
℞ Steel powders gr.V. &c. washing down with
the following Drops
℞ Tinct. Mart ℥i --- aromat. ʒij. M. S. Stomach¬
ic drops; 20 in a glass of water after every dose &c.
Notes:
1: Possibly Anthony Charmier (see Letter ID:1014).
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