Cullen

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

 

[ID:1025] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: Dr Robert Menzies (of Dura ) / Regarding: Mrs Margaret Thomson (Paterson) (Thompson; of Charleton) (Patient) / 26 September 1780 / (Outgoing)

Reply 'Dr Menzies C[oncerning] Mrs Thomson of Charleton'

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Metadata

FieldData
DOC ID 1025
RCPE Catalogue Number CUL/1/1/13/80
Main Language English
Document Direction Outgoing
Date26 September 1780
Annotation None
TypeScribal copy ( includes Casebook Entry)
Enclosure(s) No enclosure(s)
Autopsy No
Recipe No
Regimen No
Letter of Introduction No
Case Note No
Summary Reply 'Dr Menzies C[oncerning] Mrs Thomson of Charleton'
Manuscript Incomplete? No
Evidence of Commercial Posting No

Case

Cases that this document belongs to:

Case ID Description Num Docs
[Case ID:555]
Case of Mrs Thomson of Charlton who suffers from sleeplessness and abdominal pains described as hypochondriasis. She is later suspected of having bladder stones and has a paralysis in the arm.
9


People linked to this document

Person IDRole in documentPerson
[PERS ID:1]AuthorDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)
[PERS ID:830]AddresseeDr Robert Menzies (of Dura )
[PERS ID:831]PatientMrs Margaret Thomson (Thompson; of Charleton)
[PERS ID:830]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr Robert Menzies (of Dura )
[PERS ID:1]Patient's Physician / Surgeon / ApothecaryDr William Cullen (Professor Cullen)

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 Charleton House Colinsburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe inferred
Mentioned / Other Bath South-West England Europe certain
Mentioned / Other Charleton House Colinsburgh Edinburgh and East Scotland Europe certain

Normalized Text

[Page 1]
Dr Menzies Concerning Mrs Thomson of Charleton


She must not go to Bath: After the Symptoms that have appeared
I think no man of our Profession could think it safe & I think it would
be certainly fatal ---


You must particularly guard against any return or continuance
of Ascites & as her belly is is disposed to be slow I think your
Laxatives ought to be the Hydrogogue kinds - I find the
Gamboge both safe and effectual - and I frequently join it with
the Compound Powder of Jalap. & when much purging is not required
with the Aloetic Pill, which last I would not be deterred from, by
Piles at times appearing, for some evacuation these would be good
both for head & Stranguary ---


The Volatile Elixir of guaiacum is an excellent Medicine for all her complaints



[Page 2]

and a little addition of the Volatile Alkali to the Evening
Dose of Elixir may secure her perspiration which gives her so much
relief, or after she has taken her Evening Dose of Elixir, you may
give a Saline Draught made with Volatile Alkali allowing
the Alkali to prevail a little beyond the exact neutrality, and you
may find such a Medicine a very good Diuretic.


If she should happen to be tired of the Volatile Elixir of Guiaicum I would
advise you to give her fifty or sixty Drops of ↑good↑ Balsam Capivi
you may drop it on a little powdered sugar in a tea Cup and
rubbing it a little with the back of a tea spoon you may pour a
little Water on it and in this way it swallows very easily


If necessity require I would not object object to the Calming Pills
but I would abstain from them as much as possible ---


I have nothing further to say, but must take every opportunity
to recommend Mrs Thomson a moderate and light Diet of Animal
food & but I have no aversion to her taking two or three glasses
of Wine ---

September 26. 1780

Diplomatic Text

[Page 1]
Dr Menzies C Mrs Thomson of Charleton


She must not go to Bath: After the Symptoms that have appeared
I think no man of our Profession could think it safe & I think it would
be certainly fatal ---


You must particularly guard against any return or continuance
of Ascites & as her belly is is disposed to be slow I think your
Laxatives ought to be the Hydrogogue kinds - I find the
Gamboge both safe and effectual - and I frequently join it with
the Compd. Powder of Jalap. & when much purging is not required
with the Aloetic Pill, which last I would not be deterred from, by
Piles at times appearing, for some evacuation these would be good
both for head & Stranguary ---


The Elix. guiaic. vol. is an excellent Medicine for all her complaints



[Page 2]

and a little addition of the Volatile Alkali to the Evening
Dose of Elixir may secure her perspiration which gives her so much
relief, or after she has taken her Evening Dose of Elixir, you may
give a Saline Draught made with Volatile Alkali allowing
the Alkali to prevail a little beyond the exact neutrality, and you
may find such a Medicine a very good Diuretic.


If she should happen to be tired of the Elix. G. V. I would
advise you to give her fifty or sixty Drops of ↑good↑ Balsam Capivi
you may drop it on a little powdered sugar in a tea Cup and
rubbing it a little with the back of a tea spoon you may pour a
little Water on it and in this way it swallows very easily


If necessity require I would not object object to the Pilul. Pacific
but I would abstain from them as much as possible ---


I have nothing further to say, but must take every opportunity
to recommend Mrs Thomson a moderate and light Diet of Animal
food & but I have no aversion to her taking two or three glasses
of Wine ---

Septr. 26. 1780

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