The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:109] From: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / To: [ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN] / Regarding: Mr Maclean (Mclean) (Patient) / 8 September 1770 / (Outgoing)
Reply 'For Mr Maclean'
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 4 images for this document.
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Metadata
Field | Data |
---|---|
DOC ID | 109 |
RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/1/1/104 |
Main Language | English |
Document Direction | Outgoing |
Date | 8 September 1770 |
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 Maclean' |
Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
---|---|---|
[Case ID:304] |
Case of Mr Maclean prescribed various medicines. |
2 |
People linked to this document
Person ID | Role in document | Person |
---|---|---|
[PERS ID:1] | Author | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
[PERS ID:45] | Patient | Mr Maclean (Mclean) |
[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 | Cullen's House / Mint Close | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | certain |
Normalized Text
For Mr Maclean
Having considered the History of Mr. Mclean's complaints &
present circumstances of them we are of opinion that there is no reason to sus¬
pect any venereal Complaint taint in his blood, and that there is no re¬
main of any former affection of that kind exept the gleet which is
purely local. The ailment which we think is the only urgent one,
is the remains of Rheumatism which from its cause and long standing
may be a little tedious but we have no doubt that a little attention &
pains will entirely remove it.
For this purpose we advise Mr Maclean to get immediately into flannels,
to get worsted understockings, flannel drawers, and to wear a flannel shirt
next his skin both night and day. Otherwise he must wear warm cloathing
and take care in every respect to avoid cold and moisture.
He must immediately take to a diet of milk and grain, avoiding on one
hand Roots ↑Greens and other such↑ Vegetables, and on the other taking very little animal food. He
may take a little broth at dinner, and sometimes a bit of chicken, but he must
hardly go farther for some time to come.
This regimen may do a great deal but it may not be enough, and
we think it very necessary to discuss the remains of the Rheumatism still
in the Joints by some sweats properly managed.
x Let him be laid in a room not too small and close, and let his
bed be rather large.
The Medicine necessary to make him sweat, which is ordered below
is always to be taken in the morning as soon as his sweat (↑sleep↑) is over.
His bed linnen is then to be taken away, and he is to be laid in
blankets which should be warm but as light as possible, and but a little
more than he ordinarily uses.
After taking the medicine he should avoid taking any drink for an
hour or two which is liable to make the Medicine be thrown up.
When the sweat begins to break upon him he may then begin to
drink a little, and he should take frequently and but a little at once of some
[Page 2]
warm weak drink as water gruel or weak sage tea.
If the Sweat is slow in coming out he may have bottles of warm
water or boiled bricks laid to his feet, or he may have an additional blanket
laid upon him, but we would avoid raising any great heat upon him, and if
the sweat will not flow and continue without his body being much heated, we
shall not expect the benefit we otherwise might. Wherefore if he becomes
very hot let the bricks or bottles be taken from his feet, and the additional
blanket taken away. But as a good dose depends on the Sweats coming down
to his feet these may be kept wrapt in flannels, or have some additional
blanket on them.
If the sweat flows easily it is to be continued for ten or twelve hours, and
if it is moderate and flows very easily he may be allowed to continue in his
blankets till next morning.
During the sweating he is to take drink as we have said above, and
he may also at any time take a dish of tea and a bit of bread or a draught
of chicken broth, or perhaps a glass of weak negus or white wine whey.
When the sweat ceases, and it is proper to shift him, let him be dryed
all over rubbing him a little with warm towels. Let him have a short bed
gown to be put upon his shoulders and arms, that the last may be laid out
above the Cloaths while the rest of his body and limbs are drying. When
he is quite dry he may be taken out of bed, and kept wrap'd in blankets till
the bed is shifted and sheeted, when he may be laid down again with his
bed gown on & his arms kept out like he is disposed to sleep. This last direction
supposes the shifting to be in the evening, but if it is delayed till next morn¬
ing he may on coming out of bed put on his ordinary cloaths on a
little warmer, and it will be proper for him to keep to his bed chamber for
that day, and at least for the forenoon.
If this operation proceeds easily, and without exhausting him
much it may be repeated after one days interval; but if he seems much
fatigued and exhausted two or three days may be interposed, observing however
that repeating it two or three times at short intervals will do more service
than at longer.
If the dose of a scruple which is ordered for the first time answers the
purpose, it need not be encreased for the second, but if it does not answer,
the second dose may be half a dram and at any rate the third dose will
[Page 3]
probably require some encrease.
Tho' the first dose does not seem to answer, we would rather give up
that trial than give any additional dose on the same day.
These sweats are to be repeated for more or fewer times according to their
operation and effects that we expect that three or four times will answer our
wishes.
On the days intervening between the sweats he may take care
by the ↑warm↑ clothing above mentioned and otherwise to guard against cold.
If he is to sweat every other day for two or three times he should not
go abroad in the intervals, but if these intervals are to be longer he
may go abroad with proper caution if the weather is favourable. x
He will be the better for a good deal of exercise in a Carriage
but in no other way. He may walk very often, but always slowly and little
at one time.
Every night and morning except on the sweating days he should have his
whole body and especially the affected joints very well rubbed with a flesh
brush or warm flannel.
At night after the dry rubbing, any joints that are pained may be
anointed with the anodyne oil ordered below, to be very well cleaned off in
the morning before the dry rubbing is again applied.
On the days that Mr. Maclean does not sweat we advise him to drink
a bottle of the aperient decoction in twenty four hours; he may take it in
such draughts and at such intervals as he finds most agreeable to his stomach
The prescription given for it below is weak, but if on trial he
finds his stomach bears it very well the dose of the Root may be gradually
encreased to double what is ordered below.
These directiosn are chiefly intended for the Rheumatism, but expect
they will also be of service to his Gleet.
But for this farther we have ordered below an Injection of which a spoonful
or two is to be thrown into the Urethra every night and morning.
For the heats liable to come upon the Glans we have ordered a cooling
lotion which may be used every night after the injection, washing the
Glans with a linnen rag dip'd in it
Edinburgh 8th September
1770
[Page 4]
For Mr Maclean
Take one scruple of Dover's powder. Label: The sweating powder to be taken in a little tea or other such liquid, or made into a bolus and swallowed in a wafer.
Take one ounce of sarsaparilla root and one drachm of mezereon root. Boil in spring water, from three pints to two, and add at the end half an ounce of shavings of liquorice root, and strain. Label: Aperient Decoction.
Take two ounces of best olive oil, one drachm each of lavendar and sassafras, and one drachm of {illeg} spirit of sal ammoniac, and mix. Label: Anodyne Oil.
Diplomatic Text
For Mr Maclean
Having considered the History of Mr. Mclean's complaints &
present circumstances of them we are of opinion that there is no reason to sus¬
pect any venereal Complaint taint in his blood, and that there is no re¬
main of any former affection of that kind exept the gleet which is
purely local. The ailment which we think is the only urgent one,
is the remains of Rheumatism which from its cause and long standing
may be a little tedious but we have no doubt that a little attention &
pains will entirely remove it.
For this purpose we advise Mr Maclean to get immediately into flannels,
to get worsted understockings, flannel drawers, and to wear a flannel shirt
next his skin both night and day. Otherwise he must wear warm cloathing
and take care in every respect to avoid cold and moisture.
He must immediately take to a diet of milk and grain, avoiding on one
hand Roots ↑Greens and other such↑ Vegetables, and on the other taking very little animal food. He
may take a little broth at dinner, and sometimes a bit of chicken, but he must
hardly go farther for some time to come.
This regimen may do a great deal but it may not be enough, and
we think it very necessary to discuss the remains of the Rheumatism still
in the Joints by some sweats properly managed.
x Let him be laid in a room not too small and close, and let his
bed be rather large.
The Medicine necessary to make him sweat, which is ordered below
is always to be taken in the morning as soon as his sweat (↑sleep↑) is over.
His bed linnen is then to be taken away, and he is to be laid in
blankets which should be warm but as light as possible, and but a little
more than he ordinarily uses.
After taking the medicine he should avoid taking any drink for an
hour or two which is liable to make the Medicine be thrown up.
When the sweat begins to break upon him he may then begin to
drink a little, and he should take frequently and but a little at once of some
[Page 2]
warm weak drink as water gruel or weak sage tea.
If the Sweat is slow in coming out he may have bottles of warm
water or boiled bricks laid to his feet, or he may have an additional blanket
laid upon him, but we would avoid raising any great heat upon him, and if
the sweat will not flow and continue without his body being much heated, we
shall not expect the benefit we otherwise might. Wherefore if he becomes
very hot let the bricks or bottles be taken from his feet, and the additional
blanket taken away. But as a good dose depends on the Sweats coming down
to his feet these may be kept wrapt in flannels, or have some additional
blanket on them.
If the sweat flows easily it is to be continued for ten or twelve hours, and
if it is moderate and flows very easily he may be allowed to continue in his
blankets till next morning.
During the sweating he is to take drink as we have said above, and
he may also at any time take a dish of tea and a bit of bread or a draught
of chicken broth, or perhaps a glass of weak negus or white wine whey.
When the sweat ceases, and it is proper to shift him, let him be dryed
all over rubbing him a little with warm towels. Let him have a short bed
gown to be put upon his shoulders and arms, that the last may be laid out
above the Cloaths while the rest of his body and limbs are drying. When
he is quite dry he may be taken out of bed, and kept wrap'd in blankets till
the bed is shifted and sheeted, when he may be laid down again with his
bed gown on & his arms kept out like he is disposed to sleep. This last direction
supposes the shifting to be in the evening, but if it is delayed till next morn¬
ing he may on coming out of bed put on his ordinary cloaths on a
little warmer, and it will be proper for him to keep to his bed chamber for
that day, and at least for the forenoon.
If this operation proceeds easily, and without exhausting him
much it may be repeated after one days interval; but if he seems much
fatigued and exhausted two or three days may be interposed, observing however
that repeating it two or three times at short intervals will do more service
than at longer.
If the dose of a scruple which is ordered for the first time answers the
purpose, it need not be encreased for the second, but if it does not answer,
the second dose may be half a dram and at any rate the third dose will
[Page 3]
probably require some encrease.
Tho' the first dose does not seem to answer, we would rather give up
that trial than give any additional dose on the same day.
These sweats are to be repeated for more or fewer times according to their
operation and effects that we expect that three or four times will answer our
wishes.
On the days intervening between the sweats he may take care
by the ↑warm↑ clothing above mentioned and otherwise to guard against cold.
If he is to sweat every other day for two or three times he should not
go abroad in the intervals, but if these intervals are to be longer he
may go abroad with proper caution if the weather is favourable. x
He will be the better for a good deal of exercise in a Carriage
but in no other way. He may walk very often, but always slowly and little
at one time.
Every night and morning except on the sweating days he should have his
whole body and especially the affected joints very well rubbed with a flesh
brush or warm flannel.
At night after the dry rubbing, any joints that are pained may be
anointed with the anodyne oil ordered below, to be very well cleaned off in
the morning before the dry rubbing is again applied.
On the days that Mr. Maclean does not sweat we advise him to drink
a bottle of the aperient decoction in twenty four hours; he may take it in
such draughts and at such intervals as he finds most agreeable to his stomach
The prescription given for it below is weak, but if on trial he
finds his stomach bears it very well the dose of the Root may be gradually
encreased to double what is ordered below.
These directiosn are chiefly intended for the Rheumatism, but expect
they will also be of service to his Gleet.
But for this farther we have ordered below an Injection of which a spoonful
or two is to be thrown into the Urethra every night and morning.
For the heats liable to come upon the Glans we have ordered a cooling
lotion which may be used every night after the injection, washing the
Glans with a linnen rag dip'd in it
Edinr. 8th Septr.
1770
[Page 4]
For Mr Maclean
℞ pulv. Doveri ℈j
Signa The sweating powder to be taken in a little tea or other such liquid or
made into a bolus and swallowed in a wafer.
℞ Rad. Sarsæ ℥j
Cort. Rad. Mezerei ʒj
Coque ex Aq. font. lb iij ad lb ij addendo sub finem Rad. Glycyrrh. ras ℥ſs
Colaturam Signa Aperient Decoction.
℞ Ol. Olivar. opt. ℥ij
Lavend.
Sassafras @ ʒſs
Spt. Sal. Ammon. [vj calu?] ʒi
ℳ. S. Anodyne Oil
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